Taylor-Fletcher 90 + 3                 Silva 90 

Big-spending Manchester City secured the EPL’s second spot after a fortuitous victory against a Blackpool side on the wrong end of numerous contentious decisions.

City’s Adam Johnson had an early shot saved by Tangerines keeper Matthew Gilks. But they disappeared as an attacking force.

Blackpool, otherwise excellent, failed in the final third before half-time. But DJ Campbell spurned a glorious 53^rd-minute opportunity, somehow shooting wide when Luke Varney’s cross left him with only keeper Joe Hart to beat.

And Carl Taylor-Fletcher’s 55^th-minute strike was erroneously disallowed, as Elliot Grandin was flagged offside while Taylor-Fletcher was onside.

Twelve minutes later City were ahead, Carlos Tevez skilfully glancing home David Silva’s cross, moments after Silva’s introduction.

Tevez, however, was fractionally offside. So, after City’s James Milner struck the woodwork, justice appeared served when sub Marlon Harewood’s deft 78^th-minute header drew Blackpool level.

Fifty-five seconds later, however, City were ahead again through Tevez’s deflected left-foot shot, after the Argentine appeared to trip Ian Evatt.

And Tevez was denied a hat-trick by the crossbar before Silva added a sublime third on 90 minutes, cutting inside two defenders and curling in an exquisite left-foot shot.

Taylor-Fletcher bundled in a stoppage-time consolation from a well-worked setpiece.