Bowyer: Blackpool must fight to the bitter end

It comes after his men had three points cruelly snatched away from them in the final minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Accrington Stanley.

As the match approached the 90th minute, Blackpool looked odds on to secure a priceless victory courtesy of Michael Cain’s free-kick.

But a contentious penalty decision saw Stanley get back on level terms, then break Blackpool’s hearts with a 94th-minute winner.

Reflecting on the game, Pool boss Gary Bowyer said his players have to take ultimate responsibility.

“That’s just where we are at this moment in time,” he said. “You can say all you like about the officials – and we have – but that doesn’t excuse the winner in the last 20 seconds.

“You have to go to the 96th, 97th, 98th minute or whatever they decide to add.”

The defeat saw Blackpool drop to 17th in the League Two table, just two points above the relegation zone.

But Bowyer said the club’s squad depth can ultimately see them through.

“We’ve got some options and the squad is competitive,” he added.

“We’re at the stage now where we are leaving people out of the squad. It’s not personal – it’s just competition that is available. It’s good and healthy, and it drives them on.”

His thoughts were echoed by midfielder Jim McAlister, who praised the options on Pool’s bench.

He said: “It’s a strong dressing room and there’s competition for places.

“You just have to look at the standard of our strikers and the ones who aren’t even getting a look in – there are boys with track records of scoring goals.

“There’s plenty of ability and it’s a close-knit squad. We’re all striving towards the same end goal.

“You look at Plymouth and see that they’re on a good run. I think we’ll have a period like that and everyone in the dressing room firmly believes that.

“Sometimes it’s just one result that kick-starts a season.”