Emerton, who had came on as a 45th minute substitute, struck four minutes into injury time when he stabbed home after Benjani Mwaruwari's effort had been blocked.

Moments later, Emerton incredibly almost grabbed a second when he tested the palms of Blackpool keeper Matthew Gilks from range.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was rapt with Emerton's goal which was his first in the Premier League for nearly two years.

"A very good goal too, the quality of the finish was outstanding," Allardyce said.

"It rolled to Brett, but there's an awful lot to do from there on and if you look at the quality of the finish, on his bad foot by the way, he's bent that one into the bottom corner with only six inches to get it in there."

Emerton's Australian teammate Vince Grella was absent due to a hamstring injury, while David Carney was not in the Seasiders' matchday squad.

Elsewhere, Tim Cahill returned from injury as Everton slumped to bottom spot following a 0-0 draw with Mark Schwarzer's Fulham.

Schwarzer did well for the Cottagers late on making a couple of saves to deny Yakubu Aiyegbeni, while Cahill got through 62 minutes on his return.

Meanwhile, Brad Jones was an unused substitute as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Sunderland.

In Germany's Bundesliga, Socceroo Dario Vidosic was a 75th minute substitute as FC Nurnberg lost 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Elsewhere, Mitch Langerak was left on the pine again as Dortmund won 3-1 at St Pauli.

In Holland's Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar defeated FC Utrecht 1-0, but none of the five Aussies from those clubs were involved, with Brett Holman leading the absentees with a calf injury.

In Turkey's Super Lig, Mile Jedinak put in a full shift in midfield as Genclerbirligi defeated Ankaragucu 1-0, with Shane Smeltz scoring the winner.

Elsewhere, Ersan Gulum was not involved as Besiktas defeated Antalyaspor 2-1.

In Denmark's Superliga, Nathan Coe put in a full shift and kept a clean sheet as SonderjyskE defeated Aalborg BK 2-0.

In Switzerland's Super League, Scott Chipperfield was an unused substitute as FC Basel won 4-1 at FC Zurich.

In Italy's Serie B, Socceroo Carl Valeri was not in the Sassuolo matchday squad as they lost 2-0 at Crotone.

Elsewhere, Adrian Madaschi played a full game as newly promoted Portosummaga won 2-1 over Ascoli.

In Scotland's Premier League, Danny Invincibile came off the bench on 56 minutes to help Kilmarnock come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hamilton.

Invincibile won an 83rd minute penalty for Killie who scored twice in the final 10 minutes to claim a point.

Elsewhere, Ryan McGowan was an unused substitute as Hearts lost 2-0 at home to Motherwell.

In England's Championship, Adam Federici kept a clean sheet as Reading scored three times late on to defeat Barnsley 3-0.

Elsewhere, Scott McDonald played a full game but missed out as Middlesbrough lost 3-1 at Watford, while Neil Kilkenny was a 72nd minute substitute as Leeds defeated Sheffield United 1-0.

Meanwhile, Socceroo Richard Garcia was a 90th minute substitute as Hull City scored twice late to defeat Norwich City 2-0, while Daniel Ireland was an unused sub as Coventry lost 2-1 at Preston.

In England's League One, James Wesolowski was absent due to a knee injury as Peterborough United defeated MK Dons 2-1.

In USA's MLS, Danny Allsopp played 74 minutes and had a goal disallowed for offside as DC United lost 3-1 at home to Houston Dynamo.