Blackpool loanee Viv can raise his game further

Gary Bowyer has called on Blackpool winger Viv Solomon-Otabor to take his game to another level.
Viv Solomon-Otabor missed a great chance to score at MK Dons last weekendViv Solomon-Otabor missed a great chance to score at MK Dons last weekend
Viv Solomon-Otabor missed a great chance to score at MK Dons last weekend

The 22-year-old is consistently one of Blackpool’s most dangerous players going forward.

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However, in 39 games for the Seasiders this season, he has only found the back of the net three times and only has four assists to his name.

The Birmingham City loanee had a priceless chance to add to his tally in the 0-0 draw at MK Dons on Saturday, but he failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy.

“I was a little bit disappointed Viv didn’t score at the start of the second half,” Bowyer said.

“It’s a fantastic ball in from Ollie Turton and he’s got in at the back post but he’s got to be converting those into goals to really push himself on in his career.

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“He’s not scored enough but at least he’s getting in there. So he’s making progress but he’s got to be converting them.

“When he’s got the ball he’s a fantastic threat for us and gets us up the pitch.

“He can be frustrating at times in terms of end product but the progression he has made from when he first came in to where he is now has been fantastic.

“That’s good for us, for Birmingham City and himself obviously.”

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Saturday’s stalemate at Stadium MK means Blackpool are now looking relatively safe in 14th place in the League One table.

With just eight games to go, the Seasiders are seven points clear of the drop zone.

When asked how he sees the league table at this stage of the season, Bowyer joked: “I see it exactly as you said it.

“I know I wear glasses and there’s a problem with my sight, but I don’t see how I can see it any differently.

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“But in all seriousness, until you’re mathematically safe and until there’s four Rs next to teams, and hopefully it’s not ours, you have to keep pushing.”

Pool now turn their focus to their Easter double header, where they welcome the team directly behind them in the league table, Doncaster Rovers, to Bloomfield Road on Friday before making the short trip to Oldham on Monday.

Bowyer is expecting a tough game against Doncaster on Good Friday and he’s well aware his side will have to play better than they did at the weekend if they’re to pick up the win.

“Doncaster will be a tough game because they’re a good team,” Bowyer added.

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“They’re a little bit like ourselves in the sense they’ve drawn a number of games.

“But we know what type of game it will be. It will be two footballing teams trying to play the right way.

“But we know we’ve got to be better with the ball than we were against MK.”