It was a typically poor afternoon at Bloomfield Road as Neil McDonald’s Seasiders put in a lacklustre performance against mid table Port Vale.
It was the type of performance Blackpool fans have seen from their team for the majority of the season, as a lack of creativity and poor finishing was to blame for another dreadful result.
Neil McDonald handed debuts to Danny Philliskirk and Mark Yeates whilst Will Aimson started at centre half.
Andy Little had the first big chance of the game after five minutes when he turned his man and fired wide of the target, though Vale had their early chances too as Colin Daniel headed wide of the target.
Byron Moore was the next to go close for the away side as his volley deflected wide.
Despite looking lively, Andy Little was again forced off through injury in the first half with Jack Redshaw taking his place.
The Tangerines had the ball in the net before the end of the half but debutant Philliskirk was ruled offside.
Blackpool made an extremely poor start to the second half. Whilst there was controversy at one end when the Seasiders had a penalty appeal turned down, Vale then went up the other end and scored through AJ Leitch-Smith.
Pool really should have had a penalty, however the manner in which they conceded was very poor.
McDonald introduced Bright Osayi-Samuel in an effort to get back into the game and he almost drew matters level when he turned his man but could only shoot at Jak Alnwick.
Pool continued to push for an equaliser as the game went on but went without success as Osayi-Samuel had a shot deflected over the bar and Philliskirk’s late strike was held by Alnwick to give Port Vale the win.
This has simply happened too often this season for matches like these to be dismissed as unlucky.
Yes Pool could have had a penalty, but the lack of creativity in the side is very alarming.
It’s vitally important that in a side that doesn’t create much that players take their chances when they arrive and the Seasiders have not been doing this either.
These are very much dark days again at Blackpool and the side needs a big lift if they’re to drag themselves out of the mess they’re currently in.
