Wycombe Wanderers were forced to settle for a point as they played out a goalless draw with Blackpool at a windswept Bloomfield Road.

On a day where the conditions dictated the style of play both sides struggled to take control of proceedings in what was a scrappy game.

Wanderers had the better of the first half and went close as Michael Harriman hit the bar, before the hosts grew into the game in the second period.

Wycombe are now unbeaten in their last three League Two matches and will hope to continue their run when they face Colchester United at home next Saturday.

Gareth Ainsworth opted to make four changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

Dayle Southwell made way for Garry Thompson up front while Marcus Bean and Danny Rowe came into central midfield.

There was a first senior start for Nick Freeman who played on the left of a midfield four and made a bright start as he demanded the ball and drove at the Blackpool defence.

Ainsworth also had the luxury of naming Paul Hayes in a match day squad for the first time this season as the Wycombe captain took his place on the bench.

Having missed the whole of pre-season, Hayes was handed a 20 minute cameo appearance to play his first match since the final day of last season.

Conditions inside Bloomfield Road were far from ideal as a wicked wind whipped up inside the more than 17,000 seater arena.

It made it tough for either side to control possession as even the simplest of passes became subject to the will of the elements.

Chances were at a premium in the early stages, with Andy Taylor’s curling effort from the corner of the box being the closest attempt from either side.

Some fine hold up play from Akinfenwa provided the first genuine chance after 15 minutes as the forward controlled on his chest and released a marauding Bean.

The Chairboys’ number eight raced through the middle and into the box but lost his footing as he attempted to finish what would have been his first Wanderers goal.

Ainsworth’s side were enjoying the better of the first half and almost went ahead through Joe Jacobson in the 22nd minute.

The Welshman was found in space after a typical burst forward from left-back and drove a powerful effort at goal which Sam Slocombe saved well at his near post.

Wycombe were controlling proceedings now, and Harriman was inches from providing a sublime opener as he looked to curl a deft effort in from the edge of the box.

With Slocombe beaten, the ball dropped onto the underside of the bar and bounced out off the line to the relief of an increasingly passive Blackpool side.

Freeman had been a nuisance throughout and his cross gave Harriman the chance to head home with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

The winger couldn’t quite stretch enough and his weak header was comfortably saved.

Having dominated the half, Wycombe were almost hit with a sucker punch moments later and should have gone behind.

Some fine work from Mark Cullen on the left wing saw him pick out Brad Potts with a perfectly weighted cross and leave the Tangerine’s forward with a simple headed finish.

However, Potts seemed to mistime his jump and inexplicably glanced a header wide from a yard out.

The chance imbued the hosts with new found confidence and, while they didn’t create any more chances, they finished the half on top.

Wanderers were playing into the wind in the second half but still manged to utilise a long ball into Akinfenwa six minutes after the restart.

The former AFC Wimbledon man controlled superbly on his chest and held off the attentions of a Blackpool defender before volleying just over from 18 yards.

A well worked corner routine from the right caught Wycombe out just after the hour as a low cross found Potts unmarked at the near post.

Again the Pool man was wasteful though as he lashed high and wide from seven yards when completely unmarked.

Matt Bloomfield’s introduction after 65 minutes meant a lot more than the usual substitution as he made his 400th appearance for the club.

Having joined the club in December 2003, Bloomfield is Wycombe’s longest serving current player. He goes into the record books as only the 15th player to appear 400 times for the Chairboys.

His introduction did little to raise the tempo of a Wycombe’s play, which had died somewhat after the half-time whistle.

Aaron Pierre had to judged his angles carefully with 13 minutes remaining as the retreating centre-back slid in to clear a whipped cross from six yards.

Blackpool looked the more likely to score heading into the final 10 minutes and Jamal Blackman showed real class to twice deny them.

First he blocked Potts’ low effort with his legs before flicking Cullen’s drive over the bar and diving to his bright to deny Jim McAllister’s shot from 25 yards.

Wycombe’s attacking threat had all but dissipated now and Blackman’s interventions proved to be vital as they ensured his side returned to Buckinghamshire with a hard earned point.

Blackpool: Slocombe, Mellor, Aldred, Robertson, Taylor, Osayi-Samuel (Gnanduillet 64), Pugh, McAlister, Daniel, Potts, Cullen.

Subs not used: Letheren; Aimson, Herron, Nolan, Yeates Cain

Wycombe Wanderers: Blackman; Jombati. Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson, Harriman, Bean, Rowe (Bloomfield 65), Freeman, Thompson (Southwell 61), Akinfenwa (Hayes 72)

Subs not used: Richardson, De Havilland, McGinn, Wood

Referee: Ollie Yates

Bookings: Pugh (dissent 70), Hayes (dissent 80)