Blackpool drew 1-1 with Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road.

Ian Evatt states it was important for Blackpool to focus on securing a point in their 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.

Olly Casey opened the scoring for the Seasiders in the early exchanges, before Owen Moxon levelled the scores for the visitors ahead of half time.

Beyond that, clear chances at both ends were scarce, with Evatt taking caution to ensure his side came away with something on the back of last weekend’s 4-0 defeat against Lincoln City.

After bringing on Niall Ennis for Tom Bloxham in a like-for-like change ahead of the 70-minute mark, Joel Randall and Josh Bowler were only introduced in midfield in the closing stages.

“I know everyone’s clambering for change and for us to win, but take a moment to step into my shoes and think about how the game actually was and how tight it was,” the Blackpool boss said.

“Those players have a responsibility defensively, it was so close. On the back of a damaging defeat last week, which we didn’t deserve, it was vital that we didn’t give it up.

“For me it was over caution. Do I regret it? - Absolutely not. Having seen the other results, I think it’s a point gained.”

The Seasiders now face games away to both AFC Wimbledon and Doncaster Rovers in the next week, which will give them an opportunity to build on their recent point against other teams around them in the table.

“The base is something that’s frustrated me since I’ve been here - the players have become reactionary,” Evatt added.

“They give us unbelievable physical performances when fingers have been really pointed at us on the back of poor performances. For me that’s a consistency we should be hitting every week.

“That’s my message to them now - ‘We’ve got 11 games, and can you give me that same physicality.’

“If they can, and that includes the flair players - everyone knows who I’m speaking about, we’ve got enough quality in this team to stay well clear of the danger zone.

“That’s commitment and forming a habit, and we have to do it more consistently, because at the moment there’s been highs and lows too often.

“All we can do is show them, lead them, support them, and build them back up again - that’s my job as the leader of this club.

“It comes from someone whose game was based around that, and that’s what hurts me the most, teams should be a reflection of their head coaches, and the one thing I am is a fighter. We need to carry those same values and add in that quality.”

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