Cardiff City stumbled again in their bid to win promotion in League One as they were held to a deeply frustrating draw at home to relegation-threatened Blackpool.
As ever, Cardiff monopolised possession and had plenty of chances but lacked a cutting edge as their stubborn visitors dug in.
Cian Ashford and Omari Kellyman went close as the Bluebirds upped the ante after the break, while Blackpool threatened to lead against the run of play with efforts from Tom Bloxham and ex-Cardiff loanee Josh Bowler.
With time running out, there was a desperation to Cardiff's attacks, blunted by Blackpool's resolute and deep-lying defence, and the loud boos at the final whistle demonstrated what the home crowd made of the performance.
Having lost three of their previous six games, second-placed Cardiff's latest setback means leaders Lincoln City could extend their four-point advantage when they host Rotherham United later on Saturday.
More importantly, third-placed Bolton Wanderers have the opportunity to close the 11-point gap between them and Cardiff when they visit bottom side Port Vale (ended 1 - 0 to Port Vale).
Blackpool, meanwhile, remain in the drop zone but now only on goal difference, with their relegation rivals also playing later on Saturday.
Ian Evatt may have wondered what might have been as he stood on the touchline at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Blackpool boss was in the frame to take over at Cardiff last summer, but the Bluebirds entrusted former Manchester City academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy with the job of taking them straight back up to the Championship.
Despite their recent wobble, Cardiff were still on track to accomplish that mission and came into this encounter 10 points clear of the chasing pack outside the automatic promotion spots.
Blackpool, meanwhile, beat bottom side Port Vale on Tuesday to end a run of five games without a win and move within a point of safety.
That was only their second victory in 11 games, and they set up defensively in the Welsh capital in the hope of building on that rare triumph with a point on the road.
Their efforts to disrupt the game proved effective as Cardiff bossed possession and created numerous chances but were thwarted by Blackpool players throwing their bodies in the way of efforts on goal.
For all their dominance, Cardiff only forced opposition goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell into a couple of saves before the interval, with the best denying Kellyman's downward header.
There were grumbles from the home fans as the half-time whistle blew – rare murmurs of discontent in a season which has provided plenty of entertainment and success.
The atmosphere picked up in the early stages of the second half as Cardiff played with more urgency, Ashford having a shot deflected wide before Kellyman was denied by a fine low save from Peacock-Farrell.
Blackpool had a big opportunity against the run of play as Bloxham prodded wide from Ashley Fletcher's through ball, then Bowler's powerful drive was tipped over by Nathan Trott.
When the one-way traffic at the other end resumed, Peacock-Farrell was again called upon to palm away Chris Willock's shot and the keeper made a brilliant save from Ryan Wintle's late header.
Barry-Murphy turned to his bench but no amount of substitutions could change the course of the match as the Bluebirds' promotion push lost further momentum.
Cardiff City: Trott, Fish, Bagan, Wintle, Kellyman (Robinson 61’), R. Colwill (J.Colwill 83’), Tanner (Willock 61’), Robertson (Turnbull 62’), Ng, Ashford, Lawlor. Subs Not Used: Chambers, Scanlon, Kpakio.
Blackpool: Peacock-Farrell, Husband, Casey, Horsfall, Brown, Fletcher (Coulson 83’), Bloxham (Ennis 70’), Bowler (Honeyman 69’), Hamilton, Anderson, Walters. Subs Not Used: Ravizzoli, Clarkson, Randall, Ashworth.
