'Embrace that' - Blackpool boss makes feeling clear on current pressure on his side ahead of Carlisle United test
Blackpool face Carlisle United in the FA Cup this weekend.
Ian Evatt states it’s important for his players to embrace the pressure they are currently under - with his Blackpool side taking on National League outfit Carlisle United in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Seasiders have endured problems on several fronts in the past few weeks, picking up just one point in their last three League One outings and exiting the EFL Trophy following a 4-2 defeat to League Two strugglers Harrogate Town on Tuesday night.
On the back of a 3-0 loss to Reading in their last outing at Bloomfield Road, there’s plenty for the head coach to analyse and work on ahead of the visit of the Cumbrians on Sunday evening (K.O. 5.30pm).
Despite recent form being against them, Evatt believes there has been signs that his side are adapting to the way he wants to do things following his appointment at the end of October.
“Every game is pressurised, especially when you’re at this football club - everyone expects us to win consistently,” he said.
“We have to embrace that, it’s a privilege to be here and be the head coach of this football club. I’m very much looking forward to another opportunity to see how our team is progressing and growing.
“The results have been sticky in the last couple of weeks, to say the least, but we have seen moments and spells where we are starting to take on board what we want to create. The process comes before the outcome and we have to believe and trust in what we have to do to give us long-term success.
“In the modern world it’s incredibly difficult because everyone requires instant success and instant validation, and the players have suffered with that, but it’s my job to keep our changing room strong to keep them believing and show them what we are doing well while improving the thing that we aren’t doing so well.
“We will show them the data to back that up. There’s always context with data but there are signs where we are starting to gain control in games in a way that I want us to. We just need to turn that into productivity and goals.
“Hopefully that will come, but it's a process first because we’ve got time to nail it in and hopefully gain the results that we want to see.”
Gain confidence
Evatt is hopeful that a positive performance and a place in the third round of the FA Cup can give his side a spring in their step ahead of next Wednesday’s return to league action away to Rotherham United.
“Confidence is hard to gain, not hard to lose, but you’re always one performance away from doing that and hopefully a really good performance on Sunday can give the players the belief that we can go to Rotherham on Wednesday and have another good performance and result,” he added.
“First-and-foremost, we understand this is a really challenging game, I understand the opposition are in great form, they have a very experienced manager, and there’s a huge fan base travelling down. This is a tough game, we’ll give them the respect it deserves and prepare the players.
“We’re looking no further than Sunday and make sure we try and show everyone the best versions of ourselves.”
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