Colchester remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship table as Scott Vernon's brace helped Blackpool to a comfortable win at Layer Road.

Vernon's goals saw off Us but Claus Jorgensen and Andy Morrell could have added more as they dominated the first half.

Blackpool defender Michael Jackson, restored to the side in place of the suspended Ian Evatt, had the first clear chance of the game in the fourth minute.

An outswinging corner from Wes Hoolahan was met by Jackson, whose thumping header flew narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors started brightly and only home goalkeeper Dean Gerken prevented them from going behind in the 20th minute.

Jorgensen scampered down the right wing and let fly with a fantastic effort from 20 yards and Gerken had to be at his best to tip the ball around the post.

Sustained pressure from Blackpool was unsettling the home side and they got their reward in the 26th minute.

Hoolahan was again the architect as he fed Vernon from the right wing.

The midfielder steadied himself and drilled the ball high into the goal past Gerken to give the Tangerines a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later and Colchester were lucky not to be further behind as the visitors struck the woodwork through Morrell's powerful effort.

Morrell turned provider in the 36th minute, giving Colchester a real mountain to climb.

He fed Vernon again from the right, who finished well to double their advantage.

It took until the 52nd minute for Colchester to muster a decent effort and it fell to midfielder Johnnie Jackson.

He was well placed on the left side of the penalty area 12 yards from goal, but his shot fizzed past the post.

Colchester kept battling and threatened in the 65th minute through Mark Yeates.

An inswinging corner from Yeates looked to be heading in at the far post, until the previously untested visiting goalkeeper Paul Rachubka backtracked and punched it to safety.

United made an attacking switch a minute later in the hope of troubling the Blackpool defence with Kevin Lisbie replacing the tiring Teddy Sheringham.

For the second game in a row, Hoolahan was replaced by David Fox to steady the midfield, before Morrell missed a glorious chance to finish Colchester off.

He then fell foul of the referee, booked for a challenge on Pat Baldwin.

Team-mate Shaun Barker followed him into the book for time wasting in the closing stages.

Colchester toiled in the closing stages but they never looked like breaking down a solid Blackpool rearguard.

They remain in a precarious position at the foot of the table and have a real fight on their hands if they are to retain their Championship status.

Teams

Colchester Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin, Virgo, Granville (Guy 73),Yeates, Guttridge, Jackson, McLeod, Platt,Sheringham (Lisbie 67).

Subs Not Used: Cousins, Balogh, Wordsworth.

Booked: Virgo.

Blackpool Rachubka, Barker, Jackson, Gorkss, Crainey,Taylor-Fletcher, Flynn, Jorgensen, Hoolahan (Fox 73),Vernon (Slusarski 90), Morrell (Burgess 87).

Subs Not Used: Coid, Welsh.

Booked: Morrell, Barker.

Goals: Vernon 26, 36.

Att: 5,160

Ref: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire).