Neil Critchley explains why he didn't make any subs during Blackpool's frustrating goalless draw against Accrington Stanley

Neil Critchley says his faith in Blackpool’s front four was the reason why he didn’t make any changes during last night’s frustrating goalless draw against Accrington Stanley.
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Blackpool 0-0 Accrington Stanley: Chris Maxwell makes vital late penalty save to...

Pool’s head coach opted not to use his bench despite his side struggling to break down a stubborn Stanley outfit.

The Seasiders were even given a late let-off when Chris Maxwell saved Colby Bishop’s penalty two minutes from time.

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When asked why he didn’t bring on someone like Ethan Robson or Demetri Mitchell to change the game, Critchley told The Gazette: “We were discussing it. You’re looking at Ethan, he can maybe come on and get a goal, you’ve got Demi and young Brad Holmes.

“But I just felt in the last 15 minutes we started to get on top and Sullay (Kaikai) is a goal threat, he’s scored in the last few games, Elliot (Embleton) started to have more of an influence because the game started to open up and he’s good when he’s in space.

“When you need a goal, you’re always reluctant to take either of your two strikers off and I thought Ellis (Simms) was a handful again, so you don’t want to take either him or Jerry (Yates) off because they’re in good form and scoring goals.

“I didn’t want to take any of those four off because I felt they were likely to do something, but unfortunately they didn’t.”

Critchley didn't make any subs during last night's goalless drawCritchley didn't make any subs during last night's goalless draw
Critchley didn't make any subs during last night's goalless draw
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Accrington made life extremely difficult for the Seasiders, packing the midfield and stifling the host’s build-up play.

Nevertheless, Pool still squandered some good chances, Kaikai being denied twice by goalkeeper Toby Savin while Luke Garbutt thundered an effort against the post.

“In the first game Accrington were in the ascendancy, but on this occasion I thought we were and we played the type of game we wanted to play,” Critchley added.

“We controlled the game very well, built the play bravely from the back and it meant they defended in numbers with everyone behind the ball.

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“We just lacked that little bit of guile, intelligence and quality and perhaps we needed that little bit of luck as well with something falling for you inside the penalty area.

“Jerry had a little touch he could have got through to Ellis in the second-half, if Sullay scores his chance very early on in the game then we go 1-0 up and maybe the game is completely different.”

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