'Sometimes results don't tell the whole story': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's unfortunate Carabao Cup defeat to Stoke City

Fast-forward almost six months to this Saturday for Blackpool’s first competitive outing of the new campaign and it was a similar story as the Seasiders were cruelly knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage despite a hugely impressive display.

Sometimes results just don’t tell the whole story.

Blackpool did everything right at the bet365 Stadium, all that was missing was that one goal to ensure a victory their performance more than merited.

The fact Stoke boss Michael O’Neill was left “frustrated” and “infuriated” by his side’s display despite still winning the game, albeit via penalties, shows just how effective the Seasiders were.

The term “effective” probably doesn’t do Blackpool’s display justice either, as it suggests Neil Critchley’s men were solid, well-drilled, pragmatic, defensively sound and so on and so on, which wasn’t the case at all.

Blackpool took the game to their Championship opponents and, in Critchley’s own words, went “toe-to-toe” with Michael O’Neil’s side. They carried it out well, too.

Their passing was sharp and incisive and their pressing was well-timed. Despite playing with a heart-pounding high line, they were defensively sound and limited the Potters to very few clear-cut openings. They were calm and composed on the ball and played with a maturity that belied their League One status.

All that was missing was the end product, but that’s not to say they didn’t create chances. On another day they could have had three or four.

As Pool’s head coach pointed out post-match, last week against Everton they were clinical in front of goal and scored three in just 11 minutes. Blackpool’s overall display was equally as good this time round, but unfortunately that all-important goal eluded them.

As it was, it came down to the lottery of penalty kicks – although I’d argue they’re not that much of a lottery as is often suggested – and it was Stoke who emerged victorious as Keshi Anderson, Oliver Sarkic and last, but not least, Ollie Turton all missed.

It wasn’t the ending their performance deserved but, just like the Tranmere game back in March, there’s still a great deal to be positive and encouraged about heading into the league opener against Plymouth Argyle on September 12.

In naming his team, Critchley handed debuts to five of Blackpool’s summer recruits. Of those missing, Teddy Howe, Jamie Devitt and Liam Feeney were perhaps the most telling.

Aside from that, Critchley’s choice of line-up didn’t come as a huge surprise, with most fans able to predict at least eight or nine of those who took to the field.

In CJ Hamilton, a summer signing from Mansfield Town, Blackpool have a player on their hands capable of terrifying Championship defences – and that’s exactly what he did on Saturday.

Bruno Martins Indi, a former Feyenoord and Porto left-back that has been capped 34 times by the Netherlands, was torn to shreds by the rapid winger. And that was just inside the opening 20 minutes.

Hamilton, who started off like a house on fire, saw a low shot well saved by Stoke keeper Adam Davies at his near post early on.

The hosts, who fired back with chances of their own through Lee Gregory, simply didn’t know how to handle his pace and dynamic runs in behind.

If the 25-year-old can develop an end product, both in terms of finishing and assisting his teammates, he certainly won’t be playing his football in the third tier for too long.

The same can also be said of fellow winger Sullay Kaikai, who also beat his marker all ends up on a number of occasions.

Kaikai provided a dangerous cross that Keshi Anderson could only head over while Michael Nottingham was inches away from getting on the end of Ethan Robson’s teasing free-kick as Blackpool ended a dominant first half strongly.

Stoke’s goal continued to live a charmed life, as the home side somehow escaped without conceding despite the Seasiders battering away continuously before the interval.

Davies palmed a dangerous Kaikai cross into his own defender, the ball somehow staying out of the Stoke goal, before it was partially cleared to the industrious Jerry Yates who cushioned a header down to Hamilton who was somehow denied from close range.

If the first half was blood and thunder, the second was a bit more of a quiet, even affair.

Nevertheless, despite Stoke improving, it was Blackpool who created the better opening once again as Grant Ward headed wastefully over the bar from James Husband’s pinpoint cross.

With 20 minutes remaining, it looked like Pool were beginning to tire with Stoke ready to take the game by the scruff of its neck, their superior quality inevitable to shine through.

But, thanks to three well-timed substitutions, it was Critchley’s side who ended the game the stronger, forcing a flurry of late free-kicks and corners. But unfortunately it was to no avail.

And to penalties it went, which resulted in Turton being the unfortunate soul to leave the pitch with his head buried in his hands having failed to hit the target.

Chris Maxwell, who was handed the captain’s armband and wore it well, with a display of maturity and authority, made two good stops during the shootout to cap off an impressive solo display.

But with Turton, Sarkic and Anderson all failing to find the back of the net from 12 yards, Blackpool’s strong showing – both as individuals and as a collective – counted for nothing.