When Gabriel Agbonlahor opened the scoring for Aston Villa after 10 minutes it could have opened the floodgates, but Blackpool regrouped quickly and equalised four minutes later thanks to Elliot Grandin.
Villa were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Jean Makoun was given a straight red card after a challenge on DJ Campbell.
Villa made the breakthrough in the 10th minute following a swift counter-attack that left the home side exposed. Bent laid the ball off to Agbonlahor and he showed a blistering turn of pace before going around Richard Kingson and firing a shot into the corner.
But Blackpool stormed back and equalised in the 14th minute. Grandin got a vital touch at the near post after Villa had failed to deal with a corner from Charlie Adam.
Two minutes later Luke Varney should have put Blackpool ahead only to head wide from six yards following a cross from Marlon Harewood and Stewart Downing curled a shot against the post on the half hour as Villa sought to regain their lead.
Source: PA
Source: PA