Neil Critchley on Blackpool's goalless draw against Oxford United, Chris Maxwell's heroics and CJ Hamilton penalty claims

Neil Critchley believes Blackpool’s disappointment at today’s goalless draw against Oxford United shows how far they’ve come this season.

The Seasiders were the better side throughout and were worthy of the three points, only to be denied by the woodwork on two occasions - both from CJ Hamilton shots.

Despite the result, the Seasiders still find themselves in the midst of a strong run of form ahead of Tuesday night’s clash against league leaders Hull City.

“It was a frustrating afternoon,” Critchley said.

“It was two very evenly matched teams, however I thought we had the edge throughout the whole game.

“We started the game well for the first 15 to 20 minutes and I thought we started the second-half well too.

“You know a goal is going to be decisive. They haven’t conceded many recently in their games, they’ve not scored many either so that first goal was always going to be crucial.

“Unfortunately we’ve not provided that final bit of quality or that decision in the final third that would have made the difference.

“You need a bit of luck to go your way sometimes. I was right behind CJ Hamilton’s first shot that hit the post and I thought it was in. I thought it was going to hit the woodwork and then go in.

“The second one, I know it was a deflection but I thought it would hit the bar and then go in. If it had, we could have gone on and won the game by more.

“Sullay Kaikai also had a good chance in the first-half. It was a good little move and Sullay has done that a few times this season from that position from a cutback.

“Unfortunately his footing just gave way at the crucial moment, which sort of summed us up in and around the goal.

“It wasn’t for the want of effort, I thought our commitment and application was good throughout the game. I was just a little bit disappointed we didn’t work the goalkeeper or get shots off around the goal like we should have done.

“Maybe at the beginning of the season we could easily have lost that game, so the fact we’re disappointed with 0-0 against a team as good as Oxford shows where we’re at right now.”

Despite Blackpool’s dominance against last season’s beaten play-off finalists, they almost lost the game in the third minute of stoppage time when John Mousinho sent a header towards the bottom corner.

However Chris Maxwell, who up until that point had enjoyed another quiet afternoon, somehow flew across his goal to claw the header onto the post.

“It was a fantastic save,” Critchley said.

“It was a great delivery, a great free-kick and a great run. I thought it was in, so it was a fantastic save.

“I think that sums up the quality of Maxi that he’s had virtually nothing to do for the whole 90 minutes and then he pulls off a save like that.

“I think it would have been a real injustice, I’ve got to say if we had lost the game. The minimum we deserved was a point.”

Blackpool’s head coach also called into question a couple of refereeing decisions that went against his side.

Hamilton claimed to have a close-range header blocked by the arm of an Oxford defender before being brought to the ground right on the 18-yard line in the final seconds of the game.

“There were probably one or two decisions that I thought we could have had,” Critchley said.

“The boys are saying CJ had a header which hit a handball at the back post, they’re adamant it’s hit his hand and his arm is up. That’s right in front of the goal as well.

“I’m not sure if the one right at the end was in the box or not but it just beggars belief that it’s not a free-kick or a penalty, I just can’t believe that decision.”

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