Bowyer: Pool's performance wasn't good enough

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer tries to point the way ahead for his players during the draw against Crewe Alexandra

The Seasiders let slip a 2-0 lead to draw for the fourth consecutive time on home turf against Crewe Alexandra.

The result means Bowyer’s men are still without a win in the league at home since the 4-1 thrashing of Newport County back in November.

Bowyer was at odds to explain Pool’s dire second-half display, which saw Ollie Turton equalise in the 88th minute to secure a 2-2 draw.

He said: “We will watch it back and debrief it like we always do. You can possibly look at Tom Aldred going off injured but we have to watch it back.

“We got ourselves into a good position at half-time without playing particularly well but, second half, we were unrecognisable from the team that played at Carlisle and the team that played the second half at Portsmouth.

“The performance level was unrecognisable in the second half but we have to recover now and find the solution and keep working hard.”

Bowyer was also highly critical of the manner of the two goals his side conceded, with the equaliser coming after Pool had wasted a free kick.

Turton was then left unmarked to volley home from inside the Pool box after latching onto a Jordan Bowery knockdown.

Bowyer added: “The most disappointing thing is that it’s our free kick which we kick out for a goal kick. There were no instructions for the players not to have gone forward.

“We will find the answers and come up with the solutions and take responsibility for making that decision that led to (Ben) Nugent travelling a long way with the ball before anyone went to close him down.”

Had Bowyer’s men held on for three points, they would have risen to 11th, just three points off Mansfield in seventh.

The draw comes on the back of a mixed week for the Seasiders, who put Carlisle United to the sword at Brunton Park last week before a 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

When asked what effect the two away journeys to Carlisle and Portsmouth had had, Bowyer replied: “None. None whatsoever. No excuses.

“That’s where you need to stand up and have big hearts so I’m not using those two trips as an excuse at all.”