Blackpool boss pleased to make a point at Crewe

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer said he was satisfied to earn a point away to a Crewe side he described as one of the best he has seen in League Two this season.
Gary BowyerGary Bowyer
Gary Bowyer

Bowyer’s men put up an impressive show to draw 1-1 with fifth-placed Crewe, who extended their unbeaten run to five games via Ryan Lowe’s headed equaliser.

The goal cancelled out Blackpool’s 10th-minute opener, an own goal by the unfortunate defender Jon Guthrie, who inadvertently headed Andy Taylor’s teasing cross into the top corner of his own net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As has been the story of the season so far, Pool created the greater number of clear-cut opportunities but failed to make them pay.

Even so, Bowyer was happy to leave Gresty Road with a point, which lifted his side two places to 16th.

The Pool boss said: “I think Crewe have been one of the best sides we have played, so to come here and take a point is not bad for us.

“But we’re just a bit disappointed with the first half, when we could have taken a bit more care.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the second half we demanded more of them and we were just missing that final little bit.”

Pool went close to extending their lead on several occasions before half-time, with Armand Gnanduillet, Jim McAlister and Kyle Vassell all going close.

Failure to take chances is becoming something of a habit for Bowyer’s side, but the manager insists it is something the players are working hard on in training

“There is a lot of work going on, I can assure you,” he said. “We are working ever so hard to find a way.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But today we were restricted a bit by having to take (goalkeeper) Sam Slocombe off at half-time, which meant we didn’t have that extra attacking substitution.”

The Seasiders number one was replaced at the interval after suffering what looked to be a groin injury.

The injury had meant defender Clark Robertson taking goal-kicks in the first half before Dean Lyness replaced his fellow stopper.

Bowyer will have been disappointed at the lack of impact made by his other two subs, Jamille Matt and Colin Daniel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bowyer added: “We just felt it wasn’t sticking up top, so we wanted to get big Jamille on. He’s been missing through injury but he got an opportunity.

“It was the same with Colin. We wanted to get some pace and power on to get them going the other way.

“It didn’t quite work for us in that way but we still had opportunities.”