Crewe condemned 10-man Blackpool to their fourth consecutive league defeat with a clinical win at Gresty Road.

Goals from leading scorer Rob Hulse, Efe Sodje and Paul Tierney gave Crewe the points against the Seasiders, who had John Hills sent off.

Hulse took advantage of time and space in the Blackpool area to steer home a low cross from Dave Brammer and the forward was then denied by a great save from goalkeeper Phil Barnes.

Steve Foster then headed against the bar before the break.

Blackpool were reduced to 10 men when Hills was booked twice in five minutes having brought down Sodje and then fouled Rodney Jack.

Sodje headed home Crewe's second after the interval and Tierney, on loan from Manchester United, curled home his first league goal to make the game safe shortly afterwards.

Crewe: Ince, Walton, Foster, Sodje, Tierney, Lunt, Brammer, Vaughan, Jack, Hulse, Ashton.
Subs: Bankole, Walker, Sorvel, Jones, White.

Blackpool: Barnes, Coid, Grayson, Chris Clarke, Hills, Wellens, Southern, Thornton, Bullock, Murphy, Dalglish.
Subs: O'Kane, Hughes, Taylor, Theoklitos , Walker.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).