Be thankful for the runout and move on - why we shouldn't read too much into Blackpool's friendly defeat to Blackburn Rovers

A second-string Blackpool side losing 3-1 to a strong Championship outfit shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise, and nor did it.

Of those who started against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, in a game plagued by torrential rain and swirling wind, only Michael Nottingham and Matty Virtue are likely to be considered for a start in Saturday’s Carabao Cup first round game against Stoke City.

Elsewhere, the team was patched together with trialists, fringe first-teamers, youngsters and players who are likely to be shipped out before the league season gets underway.

It was no surprise then to see a disjointed team deliver a disjointed performance, especially in defence where two of the back four were literally strangers.

After a promising 45-minute cameo against Everton at the weekend, former Manchester United youngster Demetri Mitchell did himself no harm once again with a strong display at left-back.

While the trialist is only just recovering from a lengthy lay-off through injury, and questions still remain over his defensive positioning, the 23-year-old is clearly confident in possession of the ball and looks an exciting prospect attacking from deep.

His mystery central defensive partner, meanwhile, recovered from a nightmare start to put in a solid enough display. Will it be enough to get a second chance though?

Having made a lightning-fast start against Everton at the weekend, it was Blackpool’s turn this time to face intense pressure early on.

Neil Critchley’s men were caught out trying to play out from the back time and time again. Blackburn pressed and harried well and forced errors across the pitch. Some of those mistakes were unforgivable though.

If it wasn’t for some smart stops from Jack Sims and Adam Armstrong’s poor finishing, Pool could have been four or five down at the break.

Rovers, who beat Fleetwood Town 4-1 at the weekend, still had two goals to their name though thanks to a Ben Brereton double - the forward glancing home a cute early header before dinking an effort past Sims when put through on goal.

The Seasiders were too often the masters of their own downfall, playing risky and sloppy passes across their own box and, at times, putting the ball on a plate for their gleeful opponents.

Blackburn cut through Pool time and time again but, with a weakened side on show and no familiarity, understanding or partnerships across the team, perhaps this shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

On a more positive note, Critchley’s men posed considerable problems for Blackburn at the other end of the pitch - pressing well and carving two or three good chances of their own.

Liam Feeney ought to have pulled one back shortly before the break when he selfishly shot when Nathan Shaw was in acres of space beside him with an open goal at his mercy.

Blackpool did eventually reduce the deficit through Matty Virtue, who slammed home a powerful drive in a carbon-copy of his effort against Barrow earlier in pre-season.

It came after Michael Nottingham had done well to press high up the pitch, winning the ball back before picking out the midfielder in space.

Having been two goals down just seconds earlier, the Seasiders almost drew themselves level in the following moments as Oliver Sarkic and Nottingham came close with chances in quick succession on the stroke of half-time.

After receiving a talking-to from Critchley at the interval, the Seasiders emerged a much more solid and compact side in the second period.

But, as is often the way in these pre-season encounters, the raft of changes made for a stop-start affair and a comeback always looked unlikely.

Their Championship opponents made sure of victory two minutes from time when debutant goalkeeper Alex Fojticek, who replaced Sims at half-time, gifted impressive former PNE youngster Tyrhys Dolan the chance to walk the ball into an empty net after dallying on the ball on the edge of his own penalty area.

While still only 20, that’s the third time the trialist-turned-new-signing has made a glaring error like that in pre-season.

All in all, this was another useful runout that helped up the fitness of some players that hadn’t previously been given much of a chance.

Thankfully the real stuff starts this weekend.