Manager Neil McDonald and Danny Philliskirk have both previewed the game against Oldham Athletic later this evening.
Speaking to the Blackpool Gazette in his pre game press conference, McDonald explained that the message for the players ahead of the game was very simple – switch off and we fall to another defeat.
‘Whether we are playing a team at the top or at the bottom, if we switch off we will be beaten. We need to get back to how we have been playing. We have to be nice and solid, nice and bright. We certainly weren`t in the first 20 minutes on Saturday.’
With a four game unbeaten run giving Blackpool some breathing space in recent weeks, last weekend’s defeat leaves them within three points once more of the dropzone and McDonald knew the side just had to dust themselves down and try and get back to winning ways.
‘It will refocus our minds. It`s about looking forward now. We can`t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to be ready for Oldham. Just because we are playing well at home doesn`t give us the right to win. We have to make the right decisions and we`ll be switched on for tonight, that`s for sure. We have to start tonight like we finished the game against Shrewsbury.’
With points coming against Walsall, Sheffield United and Gillingham recently, he was also quick to downplay thoughts that we struggle more with lower clubs and we can only raise performances for the bigger boys in the division.
‘We`ve actually picked up more points against clubs in the bottom half but we are competing against clubs at both ends of the table. They are all tough games in this league. We plan for the top sides the same as for the bottom sides – there`s nothing different in the way we do things.’
With Danny Philliskirk lining up on the left in the last two, but getting his tenth goal of the season when moved more centrally against Shrewsbury, McDonald admitted he could be back in his normal position as he rotates the pack for the game.
‘Danny has scored three goals for us now playing up top, so that gives us something to think about. He`s a bright player who can play in a number of positions. That`s one of the reasons we were so keen to bring him to the club.’
Hayden White and Jim McAlister could also come back into contention having missed the last two.
With Philliskirk coming up against his former club tonight, following his New Year switch, he knows their threats well and he knows it’s probably not going to be easy on the eye for fans.
‘These games at the bottom aren`t footballing games. Sometimes you have to dig in and take your chances when they come. It`s a good thing we have a game so soon. We have sulked over the weekend but this is an important game now. We have to go all guns blazing into the Oldham game. We need to start the game better, and if we do I`m sure we`ll get something from it.’
