Manager Gary Bowyer has said he couldn’t have been more proud of the efforts of the Blackpool players as they booked their place in round 2 of the League Cup with victory over Bolton Wanderers.
The game needed extra time to find a winner, and Blackpool took a four two victory on the day with goals coming from Mellor, Potts, McAlister and Herron.
Speaking to the Official Site in his post game press conference, a delighted gaffer explained.
‘We said before the game that we’d see what we’re made of as a group tonight because we had to make several changes and we changed the shape as well, we only did one session with it yesterday. Full credit to the players, I can’t praise them enough for what they’ve done tonight and how they’ve gone about it, against a very good Bolton team. It’s important that they enjoy this moment but very quickly get focused for Morecambe on Saturday.’
With Blackpool coming from behind to take the lead, before Bolton got a leveller themselves in stoppage time to take us to the extra period, Bowyer went on to say.
‘The timing of both goals could have rocked us so credit to them, the way they’ve gone about it has been fantastic today. They deserve all the plaudits that they get tonight. Everybody has played a part, the subs have been magnificent when they’ve come on. Everybody has made a massive contribution to getting through tonight.’
As for the substitution of Jamille Matt with injury, he added.
‘We seem not to be able to complete a game at this moment without picking an injury up. You don’t mind picking injuries up if there’s challenges but when they’re as innocuous as what tonight’s was, it’s a little bit of a blow. We’ll see how he is in the morning and hopefully get back as quick as we can with him.’
With Herron getting a goal and an assist, he ended by saying.
‘The composure he showed to set up Jim McAlister was wonderful and the chip, if that’s been scored by a Premier League player it would be repeated over and over. I just hope that he gets the coverage of the goal that he actually deserves.’
Herron was also interviewed after the game, but for him he was quick to pass praise onto everyone else.
‘The Gaffer`s instilled from the start that we need everybody the season, whether you`re on the pitch, on the bench or in the stands. We put in a good team performance. Everyone who played a part deserves credit and the main thing was to go through.’
Adding he felt the more attacking role had suited him on the evening.
‘I`ve always played more defensive at Blackpool, but the higher up the pitch, the better I am. My aim when coming on was to support ‘Pottsy` and Henry, and create some goals. It can be any person`s given right to have a shot when I was through but the easier thing for me was to lay it to the side for an empty net. If it was anyone else I might have shot but I like ‘Jimbo` and he`s been waiting long enough for a goal.’
