Blackpool overcame Rotherham United with a 3-0 victory at the New York Stadium.

Blackpool boss Ian Evatt opted not to name a goalkeeper on his bench for the Seasiders’ meeting with Rotherham United on Wednesday night.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell started for the Fylde Coast outfit at the New York Stadium, but there was no involvement for either second-choice shot stopper Franco Ravizzoli or youth academy product Harvey Bardsley.

Instead an extra outfield player was included on the seven-man bench in order to give the head coach an additional option to change the game in multiple ways if required.

The absence of a back-up keeper in the Blackpool team ultimately wasn’t noticeable in South Yorkshire, with Peacock-Farrell not hit with any unlikely injury concerns as he kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 victory.

“If you’ve witnessed my managerial career so far, this is something I do a lot,” said former Barrow and Bolton Wanderers boss Evatt.

“It’s about risk and reward for me. If it was a cup final then it’d probably be different, but having the extra out field option sometimes helps in games like tonight.

“I looked at the squad list and thought there was an opportunity for all of the outfield players to be used in different circumstances which could’ve happened.

“I felt the risk of Bailey (Peacock-Farrell) going down is far less than one of the outfield players. It’s something I’ve thought about for my whole career.

“I don’t have the data to back up how many times the extra outfield substitute has helped us to get over the line, but tonight I’m pretty confident it has because I know what I was thinking.

“It’s unfortunate for Franco (Ravizzoli), but it doesn’t change anything because he’s still competing with Bailey, and today it was a risk I was willing to take.

“Don’t put your heart in your mouth too much because if it was a cup final or all or nothing then it’d be different because the risk would be greater.”

Your next story from the Gazette: 'The Blackpool career I wanted' - Defender shares impact of former Bolton boss.

To subscribe to the Blackpool Gazette's excellent Blackpool FC coverage and more - click here.