Ian Holloway saluted the impact of Kevin Phillips after Blackpool sealed a superb comeback in their Championship encounter with Cardiff.

Substitute Phillips came off the bench to grab a 79th minute leveller with an excellent volley for the Seasiders to cancel out Joe Mason's close-range strike for the home side.

Matt Phillips bagged a late brace to fire Blackpool back into the play-off spots but Holloway was full of praise for his 38-year-old veteran striker.

Holloway said: "I was sat right behind Kevin when the ball dropped to him and the minute he chested the ball I had no doubt where it was going.

"I thought their keeper is going to have to make a save because he doesn't miss the target. He believes in his technique and it was a classic strike.

"Kevin is a top athlete. He ran in behind their backline and created the second goal too. He's absolutely brilliant and a joy to work with.

"I'm not surprised we went behind here because we have done that a lot lately. But I'm delighted we didn't worry. The team is growing in belief and confidence."

Blackpool completed their comeback mission courtesy of two late strikes by younger namesake Phillips in the 83rd and 90th minute.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Cardiff as the Welsh side had an £800,000 bid for highly-rated winger Phillips rejected by Blackpool in the January transfer window.

Holloway said: "Cardiff can look at who they like but they were slightly ambitious and cheeky (with their bid) because if he does leave us then he will go to one of the top five teams in this country. He's that good.

"I didn't consider their bid to be anywhere enough. If they wanted him for that sort of figure they should have bought him from Wycombe.

"But the difference in him now and when he came is quite phenomenal. Well done son.

"He struck the first one beautifully and rolled in the second. He's a fantastic player and I'm delighted with Matt. He's really blossoming."

This was a first loss for Cardiff in seven league matches but Malky Mackay's men took a 59th-minute lead when Mason finished from close range after a neat knockdown from Don Cowie.

Cardiff boss Mackay said: "We are disappointed to be winning the game with 15 minutes to go and then lose. We gifted them goals and it was poor defending on our part.

"Matt is a good player, but we were playing against a good team and we had to make sure we defended well against them.

"If you give players like him and Kevin Phillips a good chance then you will get punished. It's our second defeat in 17 games but it hurts all the same."