by Steve Garland from Wembley Stadium

Snapshot

Cardiff City fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Blackpool in the Championship Play-off final at Wembley sealing the Seasiders a place in the Premier League next season.

It would come as utter heartbreak to the Bluebirds who twice took the lead in a frantic first half. Michael Chopra first opened the scoring for the Bluebirds with just nine minutes gone, only to be immediately pegged back by Charlie Adam's superb free-kick just three minutes later. It would come as a double blow for City as Bothroyd departed with a calf injury soon after.

Initially it looked to have had little effect, as Joe Ledley regained the lead for the Bluebirds with just eight first half minutes remaining. But Blackpool would rally to bring a frantic end to the first period as first Gary Taylor-Fletcher and then Brett Ormerod capitalised on some slack City defending to take the scores to 3-2 at half time.

With a one goal deficit to chase, City had forty-five minutes to claw back their top-flight dreams. Chopra almost brought the Bluebirds back on level terms as Chris Burke threaded through the City striker who was denied by the crossbar for the second time in the game. Further tests came for Gilks as he first denied Etuhu before almost gifting City an equaliser as he failed to clear his lines.

But with time running out and the game in its last ten minutes, Cardiff threw everything at the Blackpool defence only to be thwarted at every opportunity by a stern Seasiders back-line.Ultimately it was not enough for the Bluebirds as the full time whistle signalled another season of Championship football for Cardiff City and sent Blackpool to the promised land.

Chronological Report

Cardiff City travelled to a glorious Wembley Stadium to take on Blackpool in a million pound a minute encounter that would decide who would grace the Premier League next season.

In a sweltering day in the English Capital, Blackpool would enjoy the early possession, but it would be Cardiff who almost drew first blood with just three minutes gone. Peter Whittingham cut inside on the left flank before picking out Michael Chopra at the near post with his low cross. Under pressure from the defence, Chopra's flicked effort looked destined for the net only to be denied by the crossbar.

It would not take long for the pair to link up again though and this time it would bring the advantage the Bluebirds desired. Whittingham was again the provider with a superb through ball that set Chopra through with a chance to shoot on the edge of the area and he did not disappoint with a superb finish to give City the lead.

GOAL: Blackpool 0-1 Cardiff City (Michael Chopra, 9 mins)

A priceless advantage for the Bluebirds was quickly squandered however, as Blackpool proved their bounce-back-ability yet again. A dangerous free-kick was conceded by Stephen McPhail twenty yards from goal giving Charlie Adam the chance to draw the Seasiders level. Adam, who had already notched eighteen goals in the regular season, hit a sublime free-kick right into the top corner of the net, giving Marshall no chance and levelling the scores.

GOAL: Blackpool 1-1 Cardiff City (Charlie Adam, 13 mins)

Cardiff City Substitution: Jay Bothroyd off - Kelvin Etuhu on (15 mins)

City were dealt a further blow just two minutes later as Jay Bothroyd was forced of through injury, a bitter blow to their options going forward. After a frantic start, the tempo died down as you would expect in such high temperatures.

It would soon come back to life as the Bluebirds looked to regain the impetus they once held. Once again, Whittingham was instrumental in attack for City and again picked out Chopra in space inside the penalty area, but at an awkward height meant he could only scuff his chance.

But just eight minutes later, City would regain the lead as Joe Ledley this time was the recipient of a superb Whittingham through ball. As the Bluebirds started to take control of possession, Whittingham played through the advancing Ledley, whose pace out did the Blackpool defence. With just Gilks to beat, the Welshman calmly slotted home to put City back in front in what was proving to be a pulsating encounter.

GOAL: Blackpool 1-2 Cardiff City (Joe Ledley, 37 mins)

With City ahead, in normal circumstances the Bluebirds would look to take their advantage through to half time, but a disastrous last eight minutes of the first half would provide yet another twist on this roller coaster ride.

Looking for an instant response, Blackpool pushed forward and troubled the woodwork within minutes as Gary Taylor-Fletcher was denied by the near post from an audacious half volley from the edge of the area. The Bluebirds thought that they had got away with it, but from the resultant corner the Seasiders' capitalised as David Marshall failed to clear his lines, resulting in a scramble on the edge of the area. City would block initial efforts from DJ Campbell and Ian Evatt on the line, but could do nothing as Taylor-Fletcher nodded home at the near post to equalise.

GOAL: Blackpool 2-2 Cardiff City (Gary Taylor-Fletcher, 40 mins)

With the Bluebirds shell shocked, Blackpool immediately pushed forward looking to take the lead and they did as the City defence fell apart. Allowing Everton on loan full back Seamus Coleman to cut inside from the right flank, the ball dribbled into the penalty area as the Bluebirds failed to clear.Both DJ Campbell and Taylor-Fletcher looked to get their shots away, but instead it fell to Ormerod at the far post who had the easy task of firing the Seasiders' into the lead for the first time in the match.

GOAL: Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff City (Brett Ormerod, 45 +1 mins)

It had been a remarkable first half, but there was still time for late drama as Whittingham fired in a free kick from the left which was flicked on to the open Darcy Blake on the six yard box. An unlikely predator in the box, Blake finished well only to see the linesman on the far side flag and deny him what looked like being a timely equaliser. It would signal the end to a remarkable half however, a period that had left many people speechless inside Wembley stadium.

HALF TIME: BLACKPOOL 3-2 CARDIFF CITY

With a record breaking first half series of goals, the Bluebirds returned for the second period in the knowledge that they had forty-five minutes to salvage their Premier League dreams. In this game a goal could have arrived within thirty seconds, so it was a surprise to see seven minutes go by without any clear cut opportunities.

Blackpool Substitution: Gary Taylor-Fletcher off - Ben Burgess on (53 mins)

The Bluebirds would not take long to test Blackpool's resolve though as Chris Burke this time thread through Chopra for a chance to level the scores. With a goal already to his name, Chopra looked for the top left corner with his effort, beating Gilks only to be denied by the cross bar for the second time in the match.

Cardiff City Substitution: Chris Burke off - Ross McCormack on (58 mins)

Blackpool Substitution: Brett Ormerod off - Stephen Dobbie on (60 mins)

Brought on to bring a bit more flair to Cardiff's attack, McCormack instantly looked lively going forward and a good combination between the Scot and Whittingham set Kelvin Etuhu clear on the right hand side. But with a chance to level, the on loan Manchester City player could only hit his effort straight at Gilks who made an easy save.

Cardiff City Substitution: Kevin McNaughton off - Anthony Gerrard on (74 mins)

With time running out, City looked to build the pressure and scrape an equaliser. McCormack came close with an effort that rippled the side netting, but it was too little for Cardiff who were now in serious danger of waving good bye to their promotion dreams.

Anthony Gerrard was sent upfront to give the Seasiders' superb centre back pairing of Ian Evatt and Alex Baptiste something else to think about. And he had a chance as he was put through in the penalty area, only to be quickly shut down by Stephen Crainey who denied him any chance to shoot.

Blackpool Substitution: David Vaughan off - Barry Bannan on (90 mins)

Into injury time it was hit and hope for Cardiff, as Ledley got hold of a cross from the left; but being too deep, the City born midfielder could only tamely head the ball into the arms of Gilks. It would be the last effort from Cardiff as the full time whistle blew, signalling a devastating result for the Bluebirds and sealing Blackpool's place in the top-flight.

FULL TIME: BLACKPOOL 3-2 CARDIFF CITY