Brett Ormerod column: Blackpool shouldn't panic despite their start to the season

It was another disappointing day against Lincoln City at the weekend, especially with the manner in which they lost late on.

To be fair to Lincoln, they’ve had a great start but to give two penalties away and to pick up a red card is frustrating.

It’s not been the best start but there’s a long way to go. I remember back in 2001 when we got promoted under Steve McMahon, we didn’t have the greatest of starts but we still went up through the play-offs.

I think in the first month, we might have won the first game but then we didn’t win another game for another four or five weeks if I remember right.

It was a live game on Sky when we did eventually win again, and at the time, they were on about McMahon losing his job.

The good thing is Neil Critchley has a big and strong squad, and I feel with the way they’re playing – they’re playing good football and creating opportunities – they’ll come good.

At the other end, I said before that I felt they needed to sign another centre-half and he’s gone out and signed two, so that should help.

He clearly knows what he needed to do and he’s addressed the problem, so fingers crossed it turns for them sooner or later.

There’s plenty of games left. It’s a long, long season and I’m still very confident because I’ve never known a Blackpool squad to have such strength in depth.

I just think it’s a matter of time until they turn the corner and put together a run of results. They just need to get that win and go on a run. If they get back-to-back wins in the league I think they’ll then fly up the league.

The two signings on Monday means they’ve now brought in 15 new players since the end of last season.

When you join a new club you don’t always hit the ground running, it takes time to gel.

The manager likes to play a certain way and he needs to get the players up to speed with that mindset.

It can take time but I’m not worried at all. Yes it was disappointing to lose to Lincoln, especially in the way they did because they were in a winning position, but Lincoln are the form team so they’re no idiots.

But for two silly penalties and a sending off, they would have won that game so there’s no panic from me.

They’ve got too much about them, they’ve got a good manager and it’s just a matter of time before they get a couple of wins.

I’m doing the radio commentary for tomorrow’s game against Ipswich Town, so I’m looking forward to it.

They’re a good team, a club that can probably match Blackpool for finance and they’ve started off well.

I do think Blackpool will play their best football against the better teams, so fingers crossed that proves to be the case.

The manager made a lot of changes in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, which can often make a big difference. That affects the flow of things.

He’s got a big squad at his disposal, so he can use competitions like this to give players a much-needed run out, especially those who haven’t been playing in the league.

To get a draw at Accrington, albeit losing the chance to pick up a bonus point on penalties, isn’t the worst result in the world.

They still get a point for it and are still in with a shout of qualifying for the knockout rounds, which they’ll be looking to do.

I did hear Critchley’s interview after the game and he said he was pleased with his centre-halves, which will be a bonus as that’s obviously been an area they’ve struggled with in their opening games.

The competition has its knockers but as a player, you want to win every game. I’m sure the lads who played for Blackpool on Tuesday felt exactly the same.

In elite football there’s a lot of games and they come thick and fast, so these games often present the chance to give some players a rest and give an opportunity for someone else.

It’s not the most well-liked competition but once you’re out there on the pitch, you go to win the game.

As I say, Critchley has got a big squad now so he’ll need to use these games to get minutes for some of his fringe players.

It’s a chance for them to shine and show what they can do and, who knows, if they impress they might get a shot in the league the following weekend.

Football is so much more of a squad game these days, it’s all about having two players for each position which Blackpool have.