Rory Fallon's double helped keep Plymouth on course for their highest league finish for 20 years as they defeated Championship strugglers Blackpool.

The Pilgrims made the perfect start when Jermaine Easter took advantage of some sloppy defending from Blackpool to fire them ahead after only four minutes.

Blackpool then left Fallon unmarked to head home Luke Summerfield's corner midway through the first half as the home side took control of the game.

Ten minutes after half-time Fallon rose to meet another pinpoint ball from Summerfield to seal the points and keep Plymouth in tenth place.

The defeat also left Blackpool deep in the relegation dogfight and needing a win in their final game of the season at home to Watford to avoid the drop.

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock rang the changes for his side's final home game of the season with Chris Clark, Gary Sawyer, Summerfield and Easter coming in for Paul Connolly, James Paterson, Paul Wotton and Steve MacLean respectively.

Blackpool were forced into two changes with Michael Jackson replacing the injured Stephen Crainey and Stuart Green coming in for Gary Taylor-Fletcher who missed the match to attend the birth of his first child.

Plymouth came flying out the traps and went ahead in the fourth minute when Fallon's ball into the box was not cleared and Easter pounced to fire home his sixth goal for the club.

Moments later Fallon should have doubled the Pilgrims' lead but he headed wide after being found by Summerfield's teasing free-kick.

Blackpool were struggling to cope with the lively Easter and he found space in the box but fired over the bar.

The visitors gradually began to find their rhythm and Kaspars Gorkss did well to block Paul Dickov's shot before Keith Southern's shot was saved by Luke McCormick.

However, Plymouth exerted their authority on the game once again and Peter Halmosi's fierce free-kick from the edge of the box was superbly tipped over by Rachubka.

From the resulting corner, Summerfield's fine ball found Fallon six yards out and he made no mistake with the header to double Plymouth's lead.

Blackpool tried to find a way back into the game before the break, but Stephen McPhee sent a wayward free-kick over the bar before having another shot blocked by Russell Anderson.

Plymouth continued their domination after the break and Easter had a shot saved by Rachubka, before Halmosi volleyed over from the edge of the box.

The Pilgrims were enjoying their final home game of the season and Easter's shot was brilliantly saved by Rachubka as they continued their pursuit of a third decisive goal.

In the 55th minute that goal came when Summerfield swung in a free-kick from the left and Fallon rose in the area to head home his second.

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson responded by bringing on strike duo Ben Burgess and Andy Morrell in a bid to bring themselves back into the game.

However, the most they could muster was a weak effort from McPhee that went harmlessly over the bar.

Teams:

Plymouth McCormick, Clark, Timar, Anderson, Sawyer, Mackie, Abdou (Hodges 83), Summerfield, Halmosi (Smith 74), Easter (MacLean 69), Fallon.

Subs Not Used: Folly, Doumbe.

Booked: Smith.

Goals: Easter 4, Fallon 25, 55.

Blackpool Rachubka, Barker, Jackson (Burgess 61), Evatt, Gorkss, Green (Morrell 61), Jorgensen, Southern, Hoolahan, Dickov (Coid 69), McPhee.

Subs Not Used: Flinders, Martin.

Booked: Jackson, Hoolahan.

Att: 12,911

Ref: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).