Blackpool defender rues Seasiders' slow start at Plymouth Argyle

That’s according to Michael Nottingham, reflecting on Saturday’s defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

The decisive moment came as early as the third minute, when Luke Jephcott headed home Plymouth’s winning goal.

It came after CJ Hamilton had been dispossessed of the ball near the corner flag, allowing former Seasider Will Aimson to swing a dangerous cross in towards the near post.

Plymouth had further chances to extend their lead in the opening 15 minutes, before Blackpool went on to dominate the remainder of the game.

Despite creating a host of presentable chances, the Seasiders were lacking a clinical touch in front of goal once again.

They recorded their third straight blank of the season, having failed to find the back of the net in their opening two cup ties.

“It was frustrating, very frustrating,” Nottingham told The Gazette.

“We’ve come here with high hopes. We had a good pre-season and we wanted to build on that.

“It’s very frustrating we conceded so early on in the game, it gave us a mountain to climb.

“I felt we were the better team throughout the game, we weren’t troubled too much, but not putting our chances away and conceding that early goal has killed us.

“I’m not sure why we started so slowly. Everyone was raring to go before the game and feeling very positive.

“I think it was just one of those things, a lapse in concentration maybe, but if you want to progress and do well then you can’t do things like that.

“There are still plenty of positive signs and stuff to build on, but we can definitely get better.”

Blackpool’s main improvement needs to come in front of goal, having failed to convert any of their 18 shots at Plymouth’s goal on Saturday.

“I don’t know how many chances we created but it seemed like loads,” Nottingham added.

“We were just missing that composure in the final third and we need to be a bit more clinical to put those chances away.

“At the same time, we’ve got to make sure we don’t make any mistakes at the other end and keep teams out. That’s what this game has come down to in the end.”