Danns: Blackpool can't fail at the final hurdle

Neil Danns insists the Seasiders can't afford to undo all their hard work by failing to seal promotion at Wembley.
Blackpool midfielder Neil DannsBlackpool midfielder Neil Danns
Blackpool midfielder Neil Danns

Blackpool have a chance to create history when they go up against Exeter City in Sunday’s League Two play-off final – knowing victory will make them the most successful side in the history of the play-offs.

A fifth play-off win would be some achievement for the club, which is now on the brink of an instant return to League One.

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Danns said: “When you get to a final it’s not one you can lose because it means you haven’t completed the task.

“It was a fantastic night at Luton in the semi-finals and a great advert for League Two. The same goes for the Exeter game too.

“But that’s been and gone and we’ve had our celebrations. Now it’s just time to focus on the final, which has been the main aim since I came here.

“All I’ve heard from the dressing room is, ‘We will be getting to the play-offs and we will be getting to the final.’

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“That’s what the manager has instilled in us and we’re there now, but we can’t let all our hard work be undone and not turn up at the final, so the focus is to complete the job.”

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Pool progressed through to the final in the most dramatic of circumstances, netting a stoppage-time winner in their second leg against Luton to complete a 6-5 aggregate win.

But that game is now done and dusted, and Danns insists the players are solely focused on getting the job done this weekend.

“If I’m being honest it can’t come quickly enough now,” he added.

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“We’ve done the hard part getting through the semi-finals to get to Wembley but now we’ve got an ever bigger task.

“I’ve been to the old Wembley but never to the new one, so this will be my first time. Thankfully the first time is going to be for a play-off final I’m involved in.

“I’m 34 now ,so the nerves aren’t as bad as they used to be. For me it’s just another game that we have to win.”

Danns rapidly became one of Blackpool’s most important players after re-signing for the club during the January transfer window.

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On loan from League One side Bury, the veteran is now gunning for the fourth promotion of his career.

He said: “I spoke to the gaffer at Blackpool in the summer but at that point I had already agreed stuff, so I didn’t get to come at the beginning of the season.

“But once I got the opportunity, the gaffer gave me a call and I was in no doubt.

“Thankfully I came here and it’s been nothing but a positive experience.

“Everything has just been amazing and I’m thankful for that opportunity.”