Disappointed Neil Critchley delivers his verdict on Blackpool's miserable defeat to Ipswich Town

The Seasiders, who have never beaten the Tractor Boys at their home ground, had been looking to build on their back-to-back league wins.

They were the better side in the opening half against Paul Lambert’s out-of-form side, but fell behind shortly before the break, the goal following a catalogue of errors from a number of players.

Alan Judge was the beneficiary for Ipswich, before Luke Woolfenden doubled the home side’s lead at the start of the second-half to give the Seasiders a huge mountain to climb.

That was something they were unable to do and Ipswich had further chances to extend their lead late on.

“I’m disappointed with the result,” Critchley told The Gazette.

“Up until they scored the first goal, as the boss of the away team I was relatively pleased with how we were playing.

“We had some good moments, won the ball back a lot but never made enough of those situations. I felt we were in the ascendancy and the plan we had was working.

“When we were in a dangerous situation to go and break and capitalise on a counter-attacking opportunity, if Sullay Kaikai’s pass misses the centre-half then we’re in on goal.

“It didn’t though and the ball got intercepted. They counter the counter at the other end and they score to make it 1-0.

“They produced a moment of quality that we didn’t and that was the disappointing aspect of the whole performance for me.

“The second goal comes straight after half-time from a corner. It left us chasing a mountain to climb and we didn’t do enough in the second half.

“We had some of the ball without threatening the goal enough, there weren’t enough crosses and not enough shots. When we got into good positions, we failed and they saw the game out comfortably.

“The longer it was 0-0 or even 1-0, if it stays like that and we had a lot of the play and with the situation we’re in, they’d have grown anxious. But when it’s 2-0 they’re comfortable.

“In the end, they see the game out comfortably.”

Ipswich’s first goal through Alan Judge came after Blackpool squandered a four-on-three scenario at the other end of the pitch.

Kaikai’s pass was intercepted by Myles Kenlock, who picked out Judge who had been left in acres of space by James Husband being too high up the pitch.

Jordan Thorniley was too slow to get across and Judge beat Chris Maxwell too easily at his near post.

“It was something we highlighted before the game (counter attacks)”, Critchley added.

“We knew they were an attacking team that like to have the ball and we felt there would be times where they left themselves exposed.

“That one pass, if Sullay hits the space or gets it over the centre-half, then you had Matty and Elliot on that side of the pitch bearing down on goal.

“We just left ourselves a little bit exposed. He still had a quite a bit to do outside the box but unfortunately it’s gone in the bottom corner.

“That changed how we’re feeling at half-time but we still believe at 1-0 we can come out and control the game.

“If we did that, a little bit like we did at Hull away, then the pressure would have grown on them and the game would have turned in our favour.

“When they score straight after half-time, that completely calms them down and they then put men behind the ball, but they were doing it in more of a relaxed way.

“They don’t have to go chasing the game, but we do and that’s why they have a couple of opportunities near the end of the game.”

The decisive second goal came within four minutes of the restart, as Woolfended headed home from close-range from a partially-cleared corner.

“Considering how well we defended set-pieces against Northampton on Tuesday, it’s frustrating,” Critchley said.

“There’s a little bit of misfortune involved because Jerry felt he had to head it because Freddie Sears was behind him. He’s flicked it on and then it can go anywhere, it can go behind the goal, it can go in Maxi’s hands…

“But unfortunately for us it’s landed straight on the lad’s head right at the back post, but we’ve got to do better with the first contact with Jerry at the front post and the second contact at the back post. We’ve got to do more to put the player off.”

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