Manager Neil McDonald was left frustrated and disappointed following the weekend’s action against Millwall.
Making the trip to The Den and suffering a comprehensive three nil victory that he himself admitted was ‘self inflicted’ the main disappointment for him was in having called on the players to build on the performance against Chesterfield that had seen us take a point.
Sadly for McDonald what he felt we had done well in that game, he knows Blackpool totally abandoned in this one.
Speaking to the Official Site in his post game press conference the gaffer explained the side had to show true and real character now to get back on an even curve and start performing how he believes and knows they can.
Using phrases like ‘resounding performance’ for when we face Coventry City this weekend, he explained.
‘It was a tough afternoon. We conceded soft goals and picked up a sending off, which I thought was harsh. We were taught a lesson today that if we don`t play to our full potential then we`re going to get beat. We have to show character, we have done it in the past and come back with a really good performance. We need a resounding performance from every single player on Saturday against Coventry.’
McDonald’s frustration wasn’t helped because he knows the game could’ve gone differently had we managed to silence the crowd and maybe get them antsy with Uche Ikpeazu’s free header inside of the opening two minutes.
If that goes in, things might go differently – but he knew the side could neither dwell on what ifs or the actual result itself, they had to get back in training and get on with it because with 33 points left to play for, that would make a great difference to the complexion of the season if things can turn our way.
‘We`ve let ourselves down for the first time in ages and we`ve given too many soft goals away. We`ve said our piece afterwards and the players have said their piece as well. We need to take the criticism on board, learn from our mistakes and come back ready and raring to go for Saturday.’
They wouldn’t need all 33 points to avoid a successive drop this year either given how tight it is at the bottom of the table – even factoring in the game game in hand a few above hold.
A reasonable run at least staves off another relegation.
Wider press coverage also has him talking about the basics and desire and their free kick.
‘I`ve looked at the video and Uche Ikpezu stood firm. It went in between him and John Herron. That wall shouldn`t be breaking like that. It went in far too easily. You have to be prepared to take the ball in the face, the chest or wherever. That was disappointing.’
Adding.
‘Everything that could go wrong went wrong and it was self-inflicted. The first goal was a throw-in, which we stood and watched, and the second went through our wall. That was game over. There`s not a lot you can say when your team concedes goals like that. You just have to try to control your frustrations. They were two of the softest I`ve ever seen. The difference between the two games was massive. We were left feeling sorry for ourselves and deserved what we got.’
With White’s red card being the third sending off – McDonald turned to the referees.
‘We can`t keep getting players sent off, that`s for sure, but I think all three of the red cards have been harsh. For me, all three have been poor from the officials.’
Finally Mark Cullen’s disallowed goal.
‘I thought it was tight but the linesman put his flag up. It may have got us back into the game but there was probably still too much for us to do.’
