Blackpool boss Neil Critchley says: We can't afford to ease off

Tuesday’s 1-0 home win against Portsmouth made it seven wins from eight games in all competitions to take Critchley’s side back into the top half of the League One table.

The Seasiders have beaten two promotion contenders during that run – Portsmouth and Peterborough United – and were unfortunate to lose to another, Doncaster Rovers.

While Critchley is delighted with his side’s performances, Pool’s head coach is refusing to get carried away.

He said: “The players aren’t doing anything I wouldn’t expect them to do. I genuinely believe we should be higher than we are in the table. We should be quite a few points better off.

“There are a few reasons for that, but a little bit of luck here and there and the odd decision...

“The last three games were against teams who are certainly hoping to be in the top eight in the division.We won two of them and we should have won all three.

“We have to take great belief and confidence from that, but we can’t be complacent in this division because anyone can beat anyone. Results prove that and we’ve got a tough game against Fleetwood on Saturday.”

Tuesday night’s performance was arguably Blackpool’s most impressive of the campaign so far as they controlled the game from start to finish against a side previously unbeaten on their travels.

“We’re steadily improving all aspects of our game,” Critchley added. “I think we’ll still get better.

“The understanding between the players and the consistency in how we play will improve.

“It’s only three points and things can change quickly.

“We’re off on Wednesday, back in on Thursday and we’ll be ready for Fleetwood on Saturday.”

Blackpool have won their last three home league games 1-0, which gives Critchley a great deal of satisfaction.

He added: “It would be nice to calm your nerves and get that second goal, but winning 1-0 is a great habit.

“Keeping clean sheets is important and the clean sheet on Tuesday night was deserved. They rarely threatened our goal or had any real clear-cut chances, apart from the one for John Marquis in the first half.

“Had they scored it would have been really harsh on us.

“Hopefully we can turn those 1-0s into 2-0 and 3-0, like at Harrogate (in the FA Cup last weekend). That would make my heart a little bit healthier.”

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