City remain on top of the Championship this afternoon after a battling one all draw with Blackpool at the Britannia Stadium.

Ben Burgess fired the visitors in to a first half lead, before Leon Cort secured a point for the Potters with his eighth goal of the season in the second half.

Bristol City's defeat against Cardiff and Watford's 1-1 draw with Plymouth means the Potters extend their lead at the top of the Championship to one point.

Tony Pulis handed on loan Blackburn man Paul Gallagher his home debut at the expense of Jay Bothroyd who dropped to the bench.

Richard Cresswell moved up front to partner Mamady Sidibe in attack, after he passed a late fitness test.

Salif Diao lined up alongside Glenn Whelan in central midfield, with Rory Delap moving out wide in the absence of the suspended Liam Lawrence.

When the match finally kicked off, after a 30 minute delay, the Potters immediately set about gaining an early advantage.

Former Liverpool man Diao tried his luck from range after just 40 seconds, but his effort dipped agonisingly just over the bar.

Three minutes later a dangerous Gallagher free kick was flicked goalwards by Sidibe, and only the post denied the Malian his third goal of the season.

After just five minutes the hosts were dealt a blow, Diao went down after an innocuous looking challenge and was forced to leave the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring problem. Andy Wilkinson came on as his replacement.

Sidibe, who looked up for the game, almost gave City the lead 12 minutes in after his hardwork led to him closing down Paul Rachubka's kick, but just as he was about to head home in to an empty net, Kaspars Gorkss flew across and cleared the ball for a corner.

The Tangerines had their first real effort at goal in the 22^nd minute through Stephen McPhee, which Carlo Nash comfortably gathered.

A neat passage of play between Whelan and Gallagher resulted in the Scottish international firing goalwards, however Rachubka got down to save well.

Somewhat against the run of play, it was Simon Grayson's side who took the lead in the 37^th minute.

Burgess latched on to McPhee's flick on and rifled the ball past Nash via a wicked deflection off Leon Cort.

An inspired Pulis half time team talk was just what the doctor ordered. Less than two minutes in to the second period Cort out-muscled a defender and clinically drove the ball beyond Rachubka and in to the bottom corner.

City looked rejuvenated and piled the pressure on to the Tangerine defence however Cresswell and Sidibe couldn't find a deserved goal.

Wesley Hoolahan set off on a one man mission down the right flank, but after finding space for a shot, substitute Gabbi Zakuani blocked his goalbound effort.

Bothroyd was brought on for Wilkinson with twenty minutes left and he was full of energy and class.

His clever ball across goal almost found Sidibe, who would have had the goal at his mercy, however Gorkks edged him out.

Another driven ball across the box from the former Blackburn man should have been tapped in by Cresswell, but the keeper smothered the ball from under his feet.

Late on Sidibe towered above the defenders and headed Gallagher's corner goalwards, only to see it cleared off the line.

City pushed forward for a winner late on, however the visitors stood firm and frustrated the Potters.