Premier League: Blackpool 4 Bolton 3

Blackpool captain Charlie Adam settled this scintillating clash with the winning goal to keep his team’s hopes of Premier League survival alive.

Blackpool remain in the relegation zone but are level on points with 17th-placed Birmingham who play at home to Fulham on Sunday.

The sides traded goals at will as both sides put the emphasis on attack rather than defence, before Adam finally hit the winner after 63 minutes.

Having secured their Premier League safety months ago, Bolton have been one of the few Premier League teams not burdened by the threat of relegation in the New Year.

But their results have suffered as a result and they arrived at Bloomfield Road on a run of three straight defeats.

Blackpool, on the other hand, have plummeted since their impressive start to life in the Premier League.

And they got off to the worst possible start after just six minutes when Alex Baptiste allowed a long free-kick to bounce inside his own area, leaving Kevin Davies with the chance to finish neatly.

But Blackpool were not rocked by the goal, which came against the run of play, and restored parity just three minutes later through DJ Campbell, who latched onto Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s flick and planted his strike past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

And Blackpool completed their quick turnaround just 10 minutes later when Jason Puncheon curled home a fantastic second goal, edging the home side in front.

But the break-neck speed of the opening stages showed no signs of abating when Bolton equalised within five minutes through Matt Taylor, whose well-hit strike crashed in off the far post.

But Blackpool ensured they went into the half-time break in the lead thanks to Campbell’s second goal.

The club’s top scorer was left completely unmarked in the box and made no mistake after Adam’s cross.

Bolton got back on terms eight minutes after the restart through Daniel Sturridge, who scored his seventh goal since joining on loan from Chelsea, nodding home Chung Yong-Lee’s cross from close range.

But again Bolton failed to stay on level terms with Blackpool, who retook the lead 10 minutes later through inspirational captain Adam, who drove the ball home from just inside the area.

That goal came after 63 minutes and proved to be the winner despite Bolton’s best efforts of snatching another equaliser.

The Seasiders remain in the relegation zone but can still stay up if they beat champions Manchester United at Old Trafford next weekend.