Enjoyable start for Neil Critchley as Blackpool earn draw with Fleetwood

Posted Sunday, March 08, 2020 by PA

New Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was full of praise for his side after they secured a well-earned goalless draw at in-form Fleetwood in his first game in charge.

The Fylde coast derby failed to truly light up on a bitterly cold and windy afternoon but Critchley was pleased with his players’ application throughout.

He said: “I enjoyed that. In the first half we were excellent.

“We were really in control, though it has to be said that we needed to maintain that control into the second half.

“We totally deserved our point. We created some good chances in that first half.

“Don’t forget this is a very difficult place to come to and try and get a result. Fleetwood are unbeaten in a lot of games (now 11), and the conditions were difficult for both teams too.

“With a little bit more composure in that first half things may have turned out differently, but I can’t criticise any of the players after that performance.

“We battled hard from the first minute to the last and in that second half, though we came under more pressure, we defended manfully.

“I’ve seen lots of positive signs as we head towards the latter stages of the season.”

Blackpool dominated the first period at the Highbury Stadium.

Matty Virtue twice went close in the early stages while in the 10th minute, Connor Ronan smashed a 25-yard half-volley just over the top.

Gary Madine glanced a header narrowly wide and Nathan Delfouneso sidefooted over from 10 yards.

Fleetwood improved after the restart and Paddy Madden headed Lewie Coyle’s smart cross narrowly wide while substitute Ched Evans dragged well wide as a game of two halves had ended goalless.

The result at least extended Fleetwood’s unbeaten run and boss Joey Barton – who had watched from the stand as he served the second of a two-match touchline ban – said: “It wasn’t the best game really, to be honest.

“We’ve had about eight storms batter our pitch recently, and you can see that has taken its toll.

“It probably affected the flow of the game a bit today, but it’s the same for both teams and I just think that both teams just didn’t want to lose the game and didn’t really go for broke.

“At times it looked like both groups of players were wanting to win it, but also not wanting to lose this game because of the local hostility and the local rivalry.

“Blackpool beat us in the game at their place, so for me this is a point gained. It’s another point on the board for us, in the midst of what is turning out to be a really good season.

“I don’t think we were at the level required in the first half – perhaps the midweek trip to Ipswich wasn’t ideal preparation, but that’s the schedule and we have to accept that.

“I wasn’t worried that Blackpool started the more lively, but I think we controlled possession for large parts and I was pleased with another clean sheet of course.”