David Dunn: Blackpool players are starting to buy into my methods

The former Blackburn Rovers man takes charge of his third game as caretaker boss tonight(7.45pm), when the Seasiders take on League One’s bottom club Bolton Wanderers at Bloomfield Road.

While Dunn is still searching for his first win, Pool have delivered promising displays in their last two fixtures – and the interim boss is looking for more of the same.

He said: “I want the team to play with a high intensity, a high tempo and then I want us to get our passes in with some free-flowing, attacking football.

“That’s what I feel is the way to go, and from what you’ve seen from the lads in the last few weeks I think it’s fair to say they’re buying into it.

“Hopefully we can score a few more goals.

“I feel up until that final pass or that final movement in the box we’ve been very good.

“But we need to improve in that penalty box, whether it’s a run across a defender or a bit of movement, as well as that final ball.”

The Seasiders are still bedding in a number of new faces, with five of the 11 who started Saturday’s goalless draw at AFC Wimbledon only arriving at the club last month.

With so many new arrivals, Dunn admits it was always going to be a waiting game to get the best out of them.

“We made some good signings in January but they were always going to take a bit of time to gel together,” the caretaker boss said.

“I certainly see they’re doing that now and I’ve been very pleased with the performances over the last couple of weeks.”

Blackpool take on a Bolton side that are rooted to the foot of the table and appear destined to suffer a second straight relegation.

The Trotters were given a 12-point penalty at the start of the season, but even without that punishment Keith Hill’s men would remain in the bottom three.

Like Pool, Bolton are on a dismal run of form, having lost eight of their last 10 games.

Even so, Dunn says his charges must be at their best to get a much-needed three points on the board.

“They’re all tough fixtures,” he said. “I’ve watched Bolton a few times this season. They’ll be no pushovers.

“They try and play. They’ve got some good players and they’ve got some good experience in there.

“In every League One fixture, any team can beat anyone.

“I know Keith Hill and (assistant) Dave Flitcroft well, so we’ve got to be right at it.

“But I’ve got every confidence in the lads, and if they apply themselves right I feel we can be a good test for anyone that comes here.”