Blackpool boss defends the Seasiders' injury record

The Seasiders were without five players through injury on Tuesday night before their game against Burton Albion was called off barely five minutes before kick-off.

Daniel Gretarsson, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton are all long-term absentees.

Ethan Robson and Gary Madine are also sidelined with slight niggles, while Luke Garbutt, Grant Ward and Bez Lubala have recently returned from knocks.

However, given the congested nature of this unprecedented campaign, Critchley doesn’t believe Blackpool’s injury record is anything “untoward”.

“The long-term injuries we’ve got at the moment, Daniel, Keshi and CJ, how the circumstances happened were really unfortunate,” Pool’s head coach said.

“The other injuries have been normal, what I class as ‘football injuries’ that you always get throughout the course of the season.

“We always work off 10 or 15 per cent of your squad being injured and I think we’ve been in and around that. You pick up some knocks and bruises and a player might miss a game or two and then they’ll be back in. That’s normal for us.

“I don’t think it’s been anything untoward or anything out of the ordinary.”

The Seasiders must now switch their focus to Saturday’s home game against high-flying Peterborough United after their frustrating midweek postponement.

The decision to call off the game was taken by referee Christopher Sarginson after concerns had been raised by Burton players about a small area of the pitch during the warm-up.

It is the second time this fixture has been postponed after the Brewers informed the EFL they were unable to fulfil the original date, on January 28, because of a Covid-19 outbreak.

Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was seen speaking to the referee and Blackpool officials in an animated fashion for a number of minutes before the decision was eventually made to scrap the encounter.

The pitch was deemed playable following a 6pm inspection, but Sarginson said the surface “deteriorated” in the following hour and player safety would have been compromised.

Critchley’s side were looking to continue their strong record at Bloomfield Road, where they have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions and remain unbeaten since October.

Nevertheless, that’s a record they’ll be looking to build upon in the coming weeks with six of their next nine games coming on home turf.

While it isn’t the same without supporters in attendance, Pool’s head coach stressed the need to make Bloomfield Road a fortress between now and the end of the season.

“Unfortunately we’re all getting used to that situation, which is very dangerous,” Critchley said.

“When you see some highlights on the TV and you see games from past seasons with crowds in, it feels a little unusual which is worrying.

“Some of our cup draws haven’t been too kind this season with Brighton and Eastbourne away, that’s not possibly helped, but it’s part and parcel of football and you have to get used to travelling, resting and recovering.

“Six out of our next nine games are at home, where we have a good record in cups and in the league.

“It gives us a chance if we continue our home form to pick up some good points.”

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