Blackpool made a change at the break, with Niall Ennis introduced for Tom Bloxham, who had been one of their brighter outlets in the first half.
There was no easing back into it. Within the opening minute, Sonny Bradley took a hand to the face near the touchline and exchanged heated words with Ian Evatt in front of the dugouts, setting the tone for a fractious second period.
The game then swung on 48 minutes. Jack Moylan went down off the ball with no obvious contact and, after treatment, it became clear his afternoon was over, a significant blow given how influential he had been between the lines.
Tempers continued to fray. On 52 minutes, Tendayi Darikwa was booked, shortly after an off-the-ball flashpoint that saw Honeyman shove the City captain right in front of the referee. The sense of irritation around the ground was palpable.
Blackpool certainly began the half on the front foot. A speculative effort from Bowler on 53 minutes deflected up and over, and from the resulting corner, Fletcher nodded back across goal before Wickens had to dive and punch clear under pressure. A minute later, another effort was blocked as we soaked up a spell of sustained pressure.
City needed a release and nearly found it on 57 minutes. A free kick was nodded on by Tom Hamer into the path of Hackett, who had ghosted in behind, but his cross was diverted wide for a corner.
Then came a huge moment on the hour. From a long Hamer throw, McGrandles launched himself at the ball, directing a powerful diving header towards the bottom corner, only for Peacock-Farrell to claw it away superbly. It was an outstanding save that kept the visitors in it.
Varfolomeev tried his luck again on 66 minutes, cutting in from the edge of the area and firing hard over the bar, before a major flashpoint three minutes later. House appeared to be shoved with both hands in the area as he prepared to attack a cross, but the referee waved away furious penalty appeals.
Blackpool responded with changes, Anderson and Hamilton replacing Bowler and Hayden Coulson, and the game continued to simmer. On 71 minutes, Fletcher controlled with his hand in the build-up, escaped punishment and fed Ennis, who turned Reach but slipped his shot wide of Wickens’ post with only the keeper to beat.
Honeyman was booked on 75 minutes after fouling Bradley, seemingly for something said in the aftermath, and Randall was introduced for Brown as the visitors chased a foothold. We altered shape on 77 minutes, switching the back three with Towler coming on for Hackett as we looked to regain control. Instead, we struck decisively.
On 78 minutes, Street harried Horsfall into an underhit backpass, raced clear, rounded Peacock-Farrell and finished calmly for 2-0. It was a goal born of work rate and composure.
The officiating continued to puzzle on 82 minutes when a clear Blackpool corner was somehow awarded as a goal kick, drawing incredulous looks from both sets of players.
Three minutes later, the contest was finished. Reach and Jefferies combined smartly down the left, Reach delivering low into the area. Street showed awareness to touch the ball into Jefferies’ path, and he finished coolly to make it 3-0 with a superb team goal.
Fresh legs followed, Lloyd replacing House, Oné coming on for Street and Bayliss introduced for McGrandles as the Bank enjoyed the closing stages.
There was still time for a fourth. On 89 minutes, Oné was threaded through by Jefferies and, from a tight angle, he drilled home as Blackpool collapsed. It was another smart finish from Oné who has been a revelation since signing from Sheffield United.
Blackpool were still under pressure, Ashworth picking up a yellow card for a crude challenge on Varfolomeev, who wanted to get in on the goals. Reach curled the resulting free kick over as City chased a fifth.
At the final whistle, City had turned a tight, ill-tempered contest into a commanding 4-0 victory, striking ruthlessly after weathering early second-half pressure. Given the run of games coming up, for Bolton, and for us, it is a huge win, keeping the gap between us at ten points, with us having played a game fewer.
Attendance was 9,812, including 431 disappointed travelling supporters.
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