Brett Ormerod column: Blackpool new boy has hit the ground running

Neil Critchley was obviously happy they put their chances away on this occasion because that’s been their downfall in previous games.

From what I’ve seen of them, they have a lot of possession and create a lot of chances but just couldn’t quite stick them away. Thankfully that wasn’t the case against Swindon.

I’m confident that when that cutting edge does come on a consistent basis, they’ll be a hard team to stop in League One this season.

CJ Hamilton will be delighted to get two goals and that will do him the world of good. He’s certainly made a promising start.

I saw him first-hand in the Carabao Cup game against Stoke City and he was absolutely rapid, he was giving the defender 15 to 20 yards and still managing to knock the ball past him. That was an international defender as well.

He scored a cracking goal against Liverpool, so he’s definitely got something about him. To score two goals against Swindon is fantastic for him, so long may this run continue.

Defenders hate playing against that sort of pace but you’ve got to be able to use it to your advantage, you’ve got to use it right.

It’s alright having pace but you’ve got to have that final delivery. The pace can give you an advantage over defenders and get you to certain situations, but if you haven’t got a football brain to take advantage of it then sometimes it can peter out.

But I don’t think that will be the case with Hamilton. He’s learning from a very good coach in Critchley and I think he’ll get the best out of him.

I was especially impressed with his second goal on Saturday with the way he cut inside onto his left foot and smashed it home, it was a great finish.

If he can get dangerous crosses into the box and look to cut inside and have a go at goal as well, that will make his game dangerous and keep defenders guessing.

It was great to see 1,000 fans back inside Bloomfield Road but, following the news this week, it sounds like it might be the last time we see supporters back inside grounds for quite a while.

It just doesn’t seem to be going away. Just when you think we’re getting back to normal, there’s all sorts of restrictions again.

It’s very distressing for everyone but we just have to grin and bear it.

As long as they can keep the games going, fingers crossed we’ll be back to some sort of normality when this madness comes to an end. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look to be happening any time soon.

We certainly don’t want a situation where the season is ended prematurely again because that creates all sorts of problems and headaches.

Players and staff are still getting tested, so hopefully they can keep one step ahead of it and if someone does get infected then they can find out before it spreads to everyone else.

I’d like to see something done for clubs struggling financially because of this. We’re talking about institutions that have been around for hundreds of years at every level.

I’d like to see some help, especially for clubs down at the lower levels, some sort of emergency fund because that’s what is needed.

Macclesfield Town have gone, that’s an absolute tragedy. With the loss of Bury as well, this could be the start of a domino effect.

Back to Blackpool, I see they signed former Everton and Ipswich Town defender Luke Garbutt this week.

I watched him play against Accrington Stanley last season for Ipswich and he looked like a more than capable left-back.

He’s got some pedigree having come the ranks at Goodison Park. At one point, he had a big name and appeared to be the next big thing.

It hasn’t worked out for him as he would have wanted in the Premier League but he’s still a very good player.

It’s another signing that shows Blackpool are really going for it this season.

Blackpool are competing with all the big sides in their league, they’re signing good quality players so they’re putting a real squad together.

It’s a long trip to Gillingham this weekend so that will be a tough game. Steve Evans has done well there.

I think Blackpool, with the squad they’ve got, will fancy themselves to go there and get a result so fingers crossed they manage it.

If they can take their chances when they come along, they will certainly win more games than they lose.