Vassell salutes Blackpool's new arrivals

Eight games into the League One season and the Seasiders are sitting fifth in the table after five wins and two draws from their last seven outings.

The most recent of those, Saturday’s 3-1 home win against Oxford United, saw Vassell on target twice to seal a fourth successive home win since promotion.

That momentum comes despite manager Gary Bowyer radically overhauling his squad over the summer, with the new players making an instant impression.

Vassell said: “It’s not the same squad that got us promoted but we have a good core of it.

“The boys the gaffer has brought in have been brilliant. They want the same thing and that’s why we’re doing well.”

As with last month’s victory against Oldham Athletic, the three points against Oxford could have been won by half-time.

However, a failure to take chances meant the visitors had hopes of snatching something. But although James Henry halved Blackpool’s lead late on, Vassell scored his second in stoppage time.

“It’s great that we got the win,” Vassell said. “However, it was a performance of two halves and that’s something the gaffer wants us to get better at.”

Saturday’s win wasn’t completely without controversy. Pool keeper Ryan Allsop collected the ball ahead on the onrushing Henry and then went down, appearing to clutch his shoulder.

Henry made his displeasure known at the keeper’s reaction, causing Colin Daniel to rush in and defend his team-mate.

Referee Darren Handley defused the situation by speaking to Henry, Daniel and their respective captains without the need for any further action.

However, Bowyer was confused by what happened next.

“You had a better view and were closer to it,” he said.

“I saw what I saw and how the ref gets a drop ball from that is beyond belief.

“Our keeper has the ball in his hands, there’s a bit of handbags and then there’s a drop ball. That’s a completely new one on me.”