Blackpool boss hails best display of season

Gary Bowyer lauded his side's 'complete away performance' as Blackpool bagged back-to-back wins for the first since December to rejuvenate their League Two play-off hopes.
Scorers Cullen and FloresScorers Cullen and Flores
Scorers Cullen and Flores

Blackpool stunned second-placed Plymouth Argyle as they romped to a 3-0 win at Home Park in their game in hand.

Having languished in 15th place before Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Morecambe, Pool are now in the top 10 and just four points outside the play-off zone with 11 games to play.

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The Seasiders deservedly led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of two goals in three minutes by Mark Cullen and Brad Potts, both scoring for the second successive game.

The win was capped off in the second period by Jordan Flores as Pool stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

Manager Bowyer said: “From start to finish we were excellent and I think that’s our best display of the season.

“I thought we got on the front foot and our players get a bit excited when they see grass on the pitch. We’ve got those type of footballers who enjoy playing.

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“We took the game to Plymouth, scored some great goals and kept a clean sheet, so from our point of view it was the complete away performance.”

Pool started the game at a high-tempo and from the first whistle they unsettled Plymouth, who were unable to cope with the Seasiders’ high pressing and tenacious play.

Bowyer’s men also thrived in a 4-3-3 system, which seemed to get the best out of Potts and Colin Daniel.

The Pool boss added: “We spoke about the 4-3-3 system in the hotel before the match and about learning from the Portsmouth game.

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“We wanted to get in the game and make passes, and I felt we did that. We exploited Plymouth in the wide areas and we were dangerous because of that.”

The Seasiders were roared on by 127 diehard supporters who made the 660-mile round trip from the Fylde coast.

And Bowyer said he couldn’t be more thankful for their backing.

“It’s an unbelievable effort and we can’t thank them enough,” he said.

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“They did it at Portsmouth and at Exeter, and to do it again here, when it was not the best of nights.

“I made the point of going over after the game to say thank you.

“The players did too because there were 127 in an attendance of over 10,000 and you could hear our 127 singing, which is a massive credit to them.

“We can’t thank them enough.

“It’s an unbelievable gesture from them and hopefully that performance rewards them.”