Neil Critchley: More experienced players may not be the answer for Blackpool

The Seasiders slumped to their third defeat in four games on Saturday, going down 3-2 at home to Lincoln City after a nightmare final five minutes.

Blackpool’s know-how and game-management were called into question again, with many fans suggesting their very youthful starting 11 is in need of some older heads.

But Pool’s head coach disagrees, despite conceding that his players must learn to manage games better in future.

“It depends on what the definition of experience is,” Critchley said. “Sometimes you can have players who are 28-plus but aren’t necessarily experienced – it’s just their age. There are also plenty of young players who are able to play with leadership qualities.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily lacking experience. I think sometimes we can manage the games better, but I think it’s just a group that is in transition and a group with a lot of changes. You see that sometimes.

“What we must do is stay consistent, keep doing what we believe in and I’ve got full confidence this group will turn those types of performances into victories.”

Individual errors proved costly once again on Saturday, with two of Lincoln’s three goals coming from the penalty spot.

Demetri Mitchell was at fault for the first, needlessly bringing Brennan Johnson down in the box and allowing Jorge Grant to convert from 12 yards.

Grant scored a second spot-kick late on after James Husband had been shown a straight red card, Johnson again the man on the receiving end.

“It’s frustrating obviously,” Critchley said of his side’s errors. “With the first goal, Demi doesn’t need to challenge for the ball – he just needs to shepherd him to the byline but he’s left a leg dangling.

“For the second goal, there’s nothing you can do about those moments.

“It’s the third goal we should have dealt with better, much better. They were some really decisive moments in the game.

“We had opportunities to go 2-0 up, we had opportunities to go 2-1 up and we didn’t take them.

“But when you go 2-1 up with six minutes to go, you’re thinking, ‘Okay, we’ve just done enough to win that game.’

“Unfortunately, it’s not to be and it’s very tough to take, but that’s the game sometimes.”

Blackpool are back in action tomorrow night at Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy and were then due to have a free weekend after their trip to Sunderland was postponed due to the Black Cats’ international call-ups.

However, Blackpool have filled this Saturday’s gap by moving forward their home encounter against Ipswich Town, whose scheduled game against Charlton Athletic was also cancelled due to the Addicks’ international commitments.

The game, which will take place at Bloomfield Road, was originally scheduled for November 14.