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Blackpool head coach's message to his players after Bristol Rovers defeat

Many Blackpool fans questioned Critchley's decision to replace a left-back for another left-back at a time when the Seasiders were chasing a late equaliser.

But Pool's head coach has revealed he was forced into making the change, the Seasiders' fifth and final substitute of the game, due to a knock.

“Garbs just felt something on the top of his thigh right at the end, so fingers crossed that’s not too serious," Critchley said.

“He had to come off as he just felt something.

“The other subs were normal changes with us trying to get back into the game.

“I thought Ollie Turton was excellent at right-back, he got forward numerous times and so did Garbs. It wasn’t like we weren’t getting into good areas.”

Garbutt was brought off during stoppage time of Saturday's game at Bristol Rovers

Fellow Pool defender Daniel Gretarsson was left out for the third game running at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was also missing for Pool’s previous two games, the goalless draw against Accrington Stanley and the defeat to Shrewsbury Town, but Critchley insists there’s no issue.

“It’s nothing, we just thought Dan would be better suited to this game,” Pool’s head coach told The Gazette after the 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury last week.

“Daniel is fine and when you’ve only got so many places to fill on the bench, with Hubby (James Husband) you know he can play two positions.”

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Neil Critchley explains Luke Garbutt's late withdrawal during Blackpool's defeat at Bristol Rovers