"We have managed to nick something when we didn't really deserve it," said Blackpool boss Ian Holloway.
"I do feel like a bit of a burglar because it took a fantastic goal from Kevin and he'll probably be scoring them like that when he's 104.
"I thought we were very fortunate to be honest. I did not even think that looked like my team. I don't think we played anywhere near what we are capable of doing.
"We play football and I want to see it week-in, week-out - I don't care if it's wet and windy.
"I'm not happy obviously. Cardiff played better and they probably deserved all three points."
The best early Cardiff chance fell to Miller after 14 minutes but he dragged his effort wide, while Aron Gunnarsson, Kevin McNaughton and Mark Hudson could all have scored for the visitors.
However, it was not until four minutes after the break that Whittingham's cross finally saw the visitors take a deserved lead as Cowie's header bounced over Matt Gilks' despairing dive.
Blackpool looked toothless in attack but with his side in desperate trouble, Phillips scored with a glorious right-footed strike from 20 yards.
Craig Conway wasted a glorious late chance to grab all three points when he shot wide in the dying minutes for Cardiff.
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was left bewildered by how his team failed to leave the north west with maximum reward.
"I'm disappointed not to take the three points. I thought we played fantastically well," said Mackay.
"We had 26 chances at the goal and 11 corners to three. We dominated in terms of possession and chances so I have to be very proud of my team.
"To come to a team who were in the Premier League last season and are very experienced, and to play the way we did, makes me very proud of my side. They were all good, every one of them.
"But you do realise though that when you get chances you have to be clinical and take them. On another day though we would have scored a lot more than that."