Neil Critchley gutted but proud after Blackpool are sucker-punched late on by Bournemouth

The Seasiders looked to be heading to a fourth straight win at home courtesy of Josh Bowler’s first-half howitzer.

The goal, Bowler’s third in his last four games, came after Dan Grimshaw had saved Dominic Solanke’s penalty.

But Bournemouth, who sit second in the Championship table, levelled four minutes from time through Jamal Lowe before snatching a victory deep into stoppage-time courtesy of Siriki Dembele.

Critchley said: “It’s a cruel game sometimes, isn’t it?

“We’ve taken a top team right to the wire and deserved more from the game.

“In tough conditions for both teams, it was a really good game of football and I’m so proud of the players. They didn’t deserve that at the end.

“They’re an excellent team with terrific players and they give you a real problem tactically with how they play the game.

“But I thought we were relatively comfortable, if you can say that, against a team as good as them and we’ve created opportunities.

“The keeper has pulled off some fantastic saves, we’ve hit the crossbar and to come out with nothing from the game is very cruel.”

Everything was going according to plan when Bowler arrowed a thunderous effort into the top corner during the first period.

“It was an unbelievable strike,” Critchley added.

“We knew they were going to have some of the ball and some of the possession and they threatened, but we controlled most of their play relatively well for long periods of the game.

“Obviously it was a big moment when they get the penalty but Grimmy has made a fantastic save. But we had some good moments on the break before that.

“It was a terrific strike and it would have been fitting had that goal won us the game.”

What made the defeat all the more gutting for Blackpool was the large slice of luck involved in both of Bournemouth’s goals.

A poor left-wing cross ricocheted straight into the path of Lowe to tap home an equaliser, while Dembele appeared to scuff his winner, deceiving Grimshaw and creeping in at the near post.

“It’s when you need a bit of fortune and a bit of luck,” Critchley said.

“It was a poor cross for their equaliser but it’s hit Callum Connolly, deflected off him and gone behind our defence straight to the lad to put it in.

“Grimmy hasn’t really had anything to do in the second-half other than tip one over from Todd Cantwell.

“When they’re putting Nat Phillips up front towards the end of the game you know you’ve done something right because they’ve had to think outside the box.

“It was just a cruel way to end a terrific performance.”

Referee Dean Whitestone copped a lot of flack from the tangerine faithful, but Pool’s head coach shied away from criticising the man in the middle too much.

“I’m not going to mention the refere, he’s not the reason we lost,” he said.

“There were some questionable decisions all the way through the game, particularly in the second-half.

“He didn’t seem to be favouring the team in tangerine in my opinion, but it is what it is.”

​Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here