Neil Critchley so pleased to win for Blackpool fans on emotional day at Bloomfield Road

SEE MORE: Gallery of pictures from Bloomfield Road pilot event as fans return.

Just under 1,000 returned to Bloomfield Road to witness Pool’s 2-0 win against Swindon Town as part of an EFL pilot.

Those fans made plenty of noise as a CJ Hamilton brace secured Critchley’s first competitive win as Blackpool boss.

“It was a great feeling to have them back. It was great to look around and see the faces,” Critchley said.

“People want to come and support their team and get their release on a Saturday afternoon. That’s really important for them. It was great for them to be here, and share that performance and three points with us.

“I have to say it was quite emotional. I really felt there was a special atmosphere in the ground and they got right behind the team.

“I’m really delighted they saw a good performance and can go home happy.”

Summer recruit Hamilton broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval with a powerful strike, then drilled his second two minutes into the second half.

“They were great times to score the goals,” Critchley added. “It changes how you feel at half-time and that first goal is always important – it settles you down. To score just after half-time was crucial. We had numerous opportunities to make it three or four.

“I’ve said to the players we’re going to face teams that defend in numbers, like at Plymouth, and we have to break those teams down and find a solution.

“We had some good counter-attack moments in the second half and they will materialise quite often, but we didn’t make the most of those. We could have killed the game off.”

Critchley was delighted by Pool’s first goals in competitive action this season and equally pleased with the clean sheet. The Seasiders have conceded only once in four games.

“Other than the chance they put wide early on and hitting the post in the second half, I didn’t feel as though our goal was at threat for large periods,” he said. “We limited them to very little, as we did against Plymouth. On this occasion we took the chances but I felt we arguably performed better at Plymouth.”