Blackpool defender pleased with his immediate impact

When he arrived at Bloomfield Road in the summer it looked like Ollie Turton would have a battle on his hands to get the right-back shirt.
Blackpool defender Ollie TurtonBlackpool defender Ollie Turton
Blackpool defender Ollie Turton

But, as luck had it, an injury to his pal and fellow former Crewe Alexandra man, Kelvin Mellor, left the path clear for Turton to take the spot in the Seasiders’ starting XI for the opening day 2-1 defeat at Bradford City.

Since that day Turton has not looked back, starting all of ‘Pool’s next seven league games.

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The Seasiders are unbeaten in those seven games as they head to Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

But the 24-year-old, who made the step up a division from Crewe in the summer knows he cannot rest on his laurels, and that he has to keep his form high if he wants to stay in Gary Bowyer’s side.

He said: “I felt I’d have to be patient and work really hard to get in the team.

“Lucky enough, well not lucky enough, Kelv got injured which was obviously a chance for me to do well and I feel like I’m playing well.

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“I’m glad I’ve got in but it is hard work to try and keep myself in the team.”

He might have taken Mellor’s place at the start of the season but since the latter recovered from injury the duo have been playing together as versatile Mellor has slotted in to an advanced role on the right-hand side of Blackpool’s midfield.

Turton said: “Kelv has been playing really well and I’ve enjoyed playing with him on the right-hand side,

“He has done a really good job for the team, he has been playing well and we are enjoying it.”

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Despite their good start to the new campaign and a 17 point haul from the opening eight Turton is not getting carried away by Blackpool’s lofty position in the League One table.

He said: “As a team we are just taking it game by game.

“We are not going to get too far ahead of ourselves we are just concentrating o each game as it comes and not get to far ahead of ourselves.

“I think we have got a strong team here we are just taking it game by game.”

The Seasiders head to Bristol Rovers today, preparing for a hostile crowd and what is also expected to be a big attendance.

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But Turton says they will not be intimidated and just concentrate on playing football.

He said: “It will be a really difficult game, they are a good side, a decent crowd; we are just going to approach it like any other game.

“I think we will block the crowd out and concentrate on the game.

“You play the game not the occasion.”