Happy as Larry

Speaking to the press after the match manager Simon Grayson admitted that the three points against Walsall on Saturday were vitally important but were not essential in the quest to retain a League One status.

‘I said to the players today before the game, that it was a big game, it wasn’t a game that we could really afford to lose, but I wasn’t putting any pressure on them. I said that if we don’t win, then we still have six other games to play.

He also commented that he was happy with everybody’s performance today, and that the effort put in was the difference. ‘But I thought from the first whistle till the last minute that they were exceptional. We were on the front foot tackling, we were heading, chancing, closing people down, created lots of chances, looked very comfortable and confident as the game wore on.

Walsall who looked like one of the worse sides to visit Bloomfield Road this season did pose of threat, but was nullified by a solid defensive performance.‘They looks a threat form set pieces.. the (Blackpool) back four defended ever so well, the midfield players got better as the game went on, kept possession on the ball better and we killed the game off at the right times.

Asked about the change in tactics it is evident that Grayson will pick different formations for different games till the end of the season, but felt that reverting to 4-4-2 was the correct way to go with a view to opposition.‘I was always going to play 4-4-2 no matter what the results in the last couple of week were, I’m going play 4-4-2 probably at every home game, because I felt today especially, I knew they would play 4-4-2 so we’d match them up and get in their faces.

Looking forward now to a tough couple of week ahead where the division’s top teams will be the opposition Grayson was confident about stay up and getting results in the next three games. ‘I’ve been positive all along, obviously some people are less positive that I am but I’ve always remained so, We’ve just got to get there, six more points more or less guarantees you staying up, they quicker we get them the better for everybody, you can chill out a little bit, but we have still got a long way to go. We need to go now to Southend focused and a similar sort of performance today.

‘(I) Might change different systems, but might keep the same personnel. We’ve had them (Southend) watched two, three times they are doing something right as they’re up at the top of the division The nature of this division is that anybody can be anybody and we will go there, if we compete, turn up, work hard, pass the ball we?re a match for anybody.

Asking the questions were Radio Lancashire?s Ian Chisnall, Rock FM and the Gazettes? Steve Canavan.