Michael Appleton puts on a brave face as Barrow upset his Blackpool side in the Carabao Cup

The Seasiders found themselves on the wrong end of a first round upset as they lost 4-3 on penalties to the League Two outfit.

It comes after the two sides played out a goalless draw during the normal 90, with Appleton’s men unable to find their way past a stubborn opposition.

“I’m obviously disappointed to go out, but I’m not disappointed with the way the players applied themselves, I thought their attitude was first class,” Appleton said.

“Some of their play in the second-half was good, but we obviously lacked a bit of confidence in front of goal.

“If we had won 3 or 4-0 I would have been delighted with the night’s work and the way we went about it, but it just wasn’t to be. A couple of players are feeling it in front of goal.

“From the first-half we knew we had to switch the play a little bit quicker, but we threatened in behind much better in the second-half and that led to the chances.

“They earned a bit of luck, there’s no doubt about that, with the effort they put in and you’ve only seen results elsewhere tonight.

“I said to the players before the game there’s probably about 50 to 60 per cent of clubs in higher divisions will lose tonight and we’ve got to make sure we’re not one of them, but unfortunately we have been.

“What I said to them has come true.”

The Seasiders were far too pedestrian in their build-up play during the first-half, where Barrow looked more than comfortable sitting deep and soaking up pressure.

Pool did improve slightly in the second period and did create a few openings, but they lacked the quality to beat an inspired Paul Farman in the Barrow goal.

“We were more threatening in the second-half. We moved the ball really well in the first-half as well, but we were definitely more threatening,” Appleton added.

“In the first-half we probably found it too easy playing in front of them and a couple of lads started enjoying it.

“Between both boxes we were great but obviously the reality is to score goals and keep clean sheets. We’ve kept a clean sheet but we didn’t score a goal.”