'Blackpool's pressing was a joy to behold': Matt Scrafton's verdict on the goalless draw at Fleetwood and Neil Critchley's instant impact

If that is indeed the case, then Blackpool fans can look forward to seeing their side playing in a calm, composed and measured manner led by their new gaffer Neil Critchley.

There were plenty of promising signs from the Seasiders in Critchley’s first game in charge, with only the finishing touch lacking.

Blackpool’s first-half display against their Fylde coast rivals was as good as I’ve seen from them this season.

Critchley might have only had three days with the players on the training field, but you wouldn’t have known it with the disciplined way they went about their work. Critchley's impact was instant.

Pool’s pressing was a joy to behold at times in that opening 45 minutes, the young, hungry Seasiders playing on the front foot and hunting their opponents down in packs.

The tactic was clear: let Fleetwood have the ball at the back where they were more than happy for them to have the ball.

That was as a result of Pool’s scouting, which had highlighted how Fleetwood would often enjoy less possession as a way of hitting sides on the counter.

But as soon as the ball was played into the midfield area, to the likes of Paul Coutts, who was targeted in particular, the Blackpool players were onto it within an instant with their high pressing, searching for that all-important turnover.

It just demonstrated the power of proper coaching, which should perhaps come as no surprise given Critchley’s impressive background.

But the difference between this first-half display and what we witnessed earlier in the campaign was chalk and cheese.

This was a Blackpool side that were prepared to take the game to the opposition, even one in such good form as Fleetwood.

But during that opening period, Joey Barton’s men were made to look ordinary through no real fault of their own.

To Fleetwood’s credit, they were the better side in the second half and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory.

But the Seasiders stood firm, demonstrating they’re capable of knuckling down and defending well as a unit.

They limited the Cod Army to very little in the way of clear-cut opportunities, with Paddy Madden’s header on 54 minutes the only chance that caused panic in the Blackpool ranks.

For all of Pool’s good work in the first half, the only criticism would be how they failed to turn their dominance into a lead their play so richly deserved.

Nathan Delfouneso ought to have made the breakthrough when the ball was put on a plate for him just 10 yards from goal, only for the forward to steer frustratingly over.

Connor Ronan and Matty Virtue had earlier gone close with low efforts as the Seasiders made a lightning-fast start to proceedings.

The midfield trio of Ronan, Virtue and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were in their element, the youngsters – with an average age of 21.6 – harrying around the pitch and demonstrating their qualities on the ball as soon as they won it back.

If this was a sign of things to come, then Pool fans should have plenty to be excited about in the coming months and years.

While the Seasiders were on the back foot for much of the second half, with the swirling wind – which had been in their favour in the opening period – pinning them in.

But this wasn’t a Blackpool performance of old, where the players would be told to sit in, defend deep and try and see out the remainder of the match nervously.

While the hosts were the side in the ascendancy during the second half, the best chance still came the way of Blackpool. And what a chance, too.

Dewsbury-Hall delivered a fierce corner to substitute Joe Nuttall, who was standing at the near post only a yard or two away from the goalline.

The 23-year-old only needed to make the slightest of glances to nod the ball home, but he somehow managed to get it all wrong – the ball hitting his shoulder rather than his head, seeing the ball balloon over the crossbar.

With only nine minutes of normal time remaining, it could have been the difference between Blackpool making a promising start under their new man to a very, very good one against their Fylde coast neighbours.

As it was, both sides appeared fairly happy to settle for a point, which on reflection of the 90 minutes was a fair result in what was a typical game of two halves.

While a point was a good result for the Seasiders, it means they’re still without an away win since September. They have just two to their name all season.

But with Critchley now at the helm, you’d imagine that will sort itself out sooner rather than later.

Pool, now enjoying a mini-unbeaten run of four games, now have the chance to lay down a marker in front of their home supporters when they take on struggling Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night.

Despite claiming a much-needed win at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, Micky Mellon’s side remain in the bottom three and six points adrift of safety.

On the face of it, it seems like a golden opportunity for Critchley to claim his first win as Blackpool’s new head coach and for the Seasiders to build on the solid foundations they laid at Highbury at the weekend.