'I thought we played well': Simon Grayson's verdict on Blackpool's 2-1 defeat at Oxford United

The Seasiders slumped to yet another alarming reversal, losing for the sixth time in their last seven league outings.

Grayson's men, who are now 15th and 13 points off the play-offs, are now winless in their last 10 games in all competitions.

It could have been so different for Pool, who took a first-half lead through Gary Madine, only to head into the break behind following goals from Mark Sykes and Marcus Browne.

Pool should have snatched a point right at the death when Madine was gifted a one-on-one following a poor passback, only to clip the outside of the post in the fourth of six minutes added on.

"It probably sums up our last few weeks," Grayson said.

“I thought we played well today. We had a good shape about us because we knew how Oxford would play, they would pop it around.

“We limited them and pressed them at times in what were really difficult conditions. First half we were against the wind as they were in the second half.

“I thought we were good, we passed the ball in the right areas and a minute from time if the one-on-one ends up with the ball in the back of the net we get a justified equaliser.

“We showed a lot of spirit about us, some good quality but we’re just giving too many easy goals away.

“Our attacking players don’t get as much time and space that Oxford got in the box today to finish their two chances.”

The Seasiders looked decidedly shaky in defence for the second game running, gifting Oxford both of their first-half goals.

At the other end, Pool lacked a cutting edge and were unable to fashion many clear-cut opportunities of their own making.

But Grayson insists his side deserved better.

“We worked and pressed them and that’s what we had worked on this week, to press in certain areas and then really go for them in other areas," the Pool boss added.

“I thought we did that because we hurried them at times.

“Gary Madine at first looked as though he had missed his opportunity for the goal but then he had the composure to hit the back of the net.

“It would have been good had we gone into half-time 1-0 because that would have given us the impetus with the wind in our back.

“But we’ve just got to do better, that’s the basic bit, we’ve got to defend better as individuals but collectively as a team stop gifting the opposition easy chances.

“For their two goals their players have had a free shot from inside the box and you can’t allow him to do that, which is something we certainly need to address."