Blackpool boss: Pandemic has made it hard to plan ahead for matches

Pool head to the South West today to take on a Bristol Rovers side that haven’t played since December 12.

A coronavirus outbreak among the Rovers squad saw games with Charlton Athletic and Oxford United postponed, before the fixture against Portsmouth was also called off due to positive tests in the Pompey squad.

With as many as 10 League One clubs recording positive tests in the last few weeks, that’s made life extremely difficult when attempting to prepare for a game.

“It’s something new to throw into your preparation for games where you’re actually trying to predict the other squad, where you’re talking about people who are self-isolating because of Covid,” Critchley said.

“You’re then trying to predict ‘are they out of their self-isolation period? Are they back in the squad? Are they fit enough to play?’

“Usually it’s just ‘he’s got a hamstring strain or he’s done his calf, is he back or is he not?’ So it’s something else you have to throw into the equation and that’s the same with Bristol Rovers this weekend, because they had two players who recently tested positive.

“We’re now trying to work out if they’re out of their self-isolation period and whether they’ll be fit and available to play against us on Saturday.

“That’s not without mentioning the weather as well, because someone on the M55 went straight across me this morning right from the outside lane to the inside lane and crashed – so I hope whoever that is, is okay.

“I had to swerve out of the way of them unfortunately.”

Blackpool had two games called off themselves, with their trip to Sunderland postponed before Christmas following an outbreak at the Stadium of Light.

Late on Christmas Day, the Seasiders found out their Boxing Day match was suspended after a positive test in the Rochdale camp.

“It’s disruptive, of course it is,” Critchley added. “You can’t really prepare for it.

“You could say you can’t prepare for injuries but you’re more used to that scenario happening and having to deal with it.

“It’s just something else that is added into the mix. I think the best thing from our side is trying not to think about it and talk about it too much and just concentrate on the football, which is easier said than done.”

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