On a pitch which passed an inspection just three hours before kick-off both sides struggled to play much constructive football.
The game's defining moment came two minutes before the break when, what had been up to then a tight home defence suddenly opened up.
A throughball from Gary Taylor-Fletcher evaded central defender Rob Edwards and that left Town hitman David Graham in a one-on-one battle with Jason Wilcox.
As Graham sped into the box Wilcox hooked him down from behind and Chris Brandon converted the penalty.
Wilcox was red carded and Blackpool's previous calmness suddenly disappeared, even though Marcus Bean produced a fine shot which Martin McIntosh did brilliantly to clear off the line.
Town began to take a grip on the game in the second half with Brandon and Graham forcing good saves from Lee Jones.
The Seasiders counted themselves fortunate not to go down to nine men when a rash two-footed challenge on McIntosh by Keith Southern only earned the Blackpool midfielder a yellow card.
Blackpool manager Simon Grayson used his substitutes in a bid to break down the Town back four, but winger Rory Prendergast could only head straight into the arms of Philip Senior.
With five minutes remaining Blackpool should have levelled when a quick break out of defence resulted in a clear chance for Njazi Kuqi, but the on-loan Birmingham frontman shot tamely at Senior.