'We need to' - Ian Evatt shares message to Blackpool dressing room after Bradford City defeat
Blackpool were defeated 2-1 by Bradford City at Bloomfield Road.
Ian Evatt states it’s going to be crucial for Blackpool to start executing the basics better following their 2-1 defeat to Bradford City on Sunday afternoon.
Aden Baldwin and Will Swan were both on the scoresheet for the visitors, with errors at the back presenting shooting opportunities on both occasions.
Ashley Fletcher did find the back of the net in between the two Bantams goals, but that proved to be a rare clear chance for the Seasiders.
The defeat to the West Yorkshire outfit followed a 5-1 loss to Port Vale on New Year’s Day, where a James Husband sending off completely changed the direction of the contest at Vale Park.
In addition to the club captain being suspended, Fraser Horsfall also missed the game after picking up a hamstring injury - which is set to keep him out for a minimum of eight weeks.
With others also absent, there was a knock on effect for Blackpool, who were unable to replicate some of the positive signs they produced through an unbeaten December.
After the match, Evatt was clear in his messaging to the players, and what they need to quickly improve.
“I don’t think we were as energised as I wants us to be,” he said.
“There was nothing in that game, we’ve gifted them two goals, they didn’t have to work for them.
“What’s frustrating for me, and I’ve just shared this with the players, is when we score goals - it’s five, six, seven passes, playing back to front; we don’t get gifted the goals we seem to gift the opposition.
“Second phase set pieces in particular need to be better, and that’s mindset. We work on the training pitch, and we show them the detail, but when it comes to on the grass, they’ve got to execute it.
“It’s their job and responsibility to mark their man until the phase is over, and we’re not doing that well enough.
“We showed them Bradford’s passage of play, we know they make one pass and then look to play down the channels, and we didn’t deal with it well enough.
“We need to do the basics better, then we can sprinkle some of the exciting stuff and the nice goals we’re scoring.”
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