We don't like to be beside the seaside. With slideshow

BRYAN ROBSON took a point but very little pleasure from his beano by the beach at Blackpool.

Once again Sheffield United were indebted to James Beattie as the in-form marksman scored his second brace in as many games to ensure his team mates did not pay too heavy a price for the problems which have pockmarked their performances on the road this season.

Beattie underlined his importance to the United cause by snatching a fortuitous later equaliser after Stephen Crainey and Ben Burgess had cancelled-out his early opener for Robson's men, who slip to 11th as a result of last night's draw at Bloomfield Road.

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Robson's assessment was as brutal and effective as some of Blackpool's football but while he was right to criticise their failure to respect possession, especially among a makeshift midfield, he can at least take some consolation from the fact that United showed the tenacity they sorely lacked during their previous away day at Scunthorpe.

Here, on the windswept Lancashire coast, there was industry aplenty but, crucially, quality was at a premium.

"No disrespect to Blackpool but with the squad we have when we score twice we should be winning at places like this," Robson said. "We did well at the start and got ourselves in front but we didn't keep hold of the ball enough.

"I don't just blame the defenders, we also did it in the middle of the park and so that will always invite pressure on to the back four.

"Our second half performance was unacceptable. There is plenty of work to do away from home.

To watch our picture slideshow, click the video icon at the top of the page We have to learn to keep the ball more."

Robson, making just one change to the team which beat Wolves at the weekend, had demanded a wholehearted display from his players on the eve of this fixture and his pre-match call-to-arms provoked the desired response.

Blackpool, previously beaten just once in the league since last season's promotion to the Championship, have turned their three sided ground into a fortress in recent months but it took the visitors only 13 minutes to breach their defences.

Against opponents - and striker Burgess in particular - clearly willing to bludgeon their way towards victory, United went about their work with impressive fluency and economy of movement; two qualities which the forward line displayed in abundance to present Beattie with his fifth goal in just six games.

Signed for a club record fee of 4m in the summer, the former England international has enjoyed a spectacular renaissance in United colours since completing his surprise move from Goodison Park and so when an incisive exchange between Gary Naysmith and Jon Stead, replacing Danny Webber in attack, found him perfectly positioned on the edge of Paul Rachubka's six yard box there was an inevitability about the outcome.

A decisive finish left the Blackpool goalkeeper, who had already produced a fine save to prevent Shaun Barker turning the ball into the back of his own net, with no opportunity of repeating his earlier heroics.

The opening skirmishes apart, which saw both sets of players battle the elements as well as each other, United had established a degree of control but, as Bristol City and Hull have discovered, Simon Grayson's outfit have a healthy disregard for reputations and seconds before the interval Crainey's exquisite free-kick forced Robson to tear-up his half-time team talk.

Referee Mark Halsey's decision to penalise Chris Morgan for a dangerously high foot as he challenged Andy Morrell appeared debatable but the end result was emphatic as the Blackpool defender caressed a sweet effort around the wall and into the back of the net.

"We gave away a stupid free-kick and that was always going to give them a lift," Robson complained.

If the manager's interpretation of the events which led to Crainey's intervention was a shade harsh on Morgan, it was impossible to challenge Blackpool's dominance after the break.

Gary Taylor-Flether should have edged them in front after a swift counter-attack but aimed his shot too close to Paddy Kenny while substitute Alan Quinn and Chris Armstrong both drilled wide as the game unravelled.

Burgess looked to have sealed United's fate when he seized upon some poor defending with just three minutes remaining but 60 seconds later Beattie restored parity with his speculative attempt from range which totally deceived the hapless Rachubka.

"Ask any striker and they'll tell you that when they are scoring their confidence is up," Beattie said afterwards.

"If I hadn't been scoring then I probably wouldn't even have tried to hit it from there."