Blackpool boss wants Bloomfield Road to become a fortress
Ian Evatt thinks the Bloomfield Road factor – on and off the pitch – will have a key role in preserving Blackpool’s League One status.
The Seasiders are two points above the relegation places with four matches remaining: two at home and another pair on the road.
Peterborough United are this season’s penultimate visitors to Bloomfield Road on Saturday, followed by the match with Leyton Orient in a fortnight’s time.
Evatt’s players have picked up 13 points from the last 15 on the Fylde coast, which have been fundamental in getting them to a position where their fate is in their own hands.
Blackpool’s head coach said: “(There was) A really good performance at Cardiff (0-0 draw) between that.
“We have to do what we need to do. We want to make Bloomfield Road a fortress and it should be.”
As well as the players, the Blackpool supporters also have a key role in helping to establish that home rule.
Their vociferous backing has been appreciated by players and managers, past and present, with Evatt showing his appreciation after the homecoming anniversary win against Burton Albion at the end of March.
At the same time, he also admitted the players need to do their part in helping the supporters to get behind them and make it an uncomfortable afternoon for visiting teams.
Evatt added: “They have been huge in my journey in football.
“My playing career here, it was huge, and even now, we’ve had some highs and lows, ups and downs, but talking about club DNA, that’s what this club is. It’s togetherness.
“The difference that North Stand and the rest of the supporters can make for the team, to me, is ginormous.
“It’s always a two-way street, we need to make sure that we play our part, to get them excited and get their bums off the seats
“We know, when times get tough, they’re going to be there for us to pick us up again, go again, and hopefully we can see more of the same on Saturday because when you create that atmosphere, it’s a really difficult place to go.”