'Sometimes you have to find different ways': Neil Critchley delighted with Blackpool's battling qualities in Fylde Coast win against Fleetwood Town

The Seasiders battled to a hard-earned three points, their eighth in their last nine games, thanks to Gary Madine’s early header.

It was a scrappy encounter low on clear-cut opportunities, but Critchley was delighted with how his players dug in to claim the victory.

“It was a terrific win, a hard-fought win as well,” Pool’s head coach said.

“We beat Portsmouth 1-0 on Tuesday in a completely different manner in this game, so we’ve shown a completely different side to our game. We’ve had to fight and scrap for everything.

“We defended magnificently well as a team. Maxi (Chris Maxwell) has had very little to do in the game and we carried a threat at the other end.

“A set-piece has decided it, but that was something we spoke about and practiced yesterday because we thought we’d have a chance at set-pieces and that’s what has decided the game.

“For 90, or 94 minutes, we were excellent.”

While Blackpool were the better side in the opening half, they had to soak up a bit of Fleetwood pressure in the second 45 minutes.

“We were solid and resilient in the second-half, which really pleased me,” Critchley added.

“I wouldn’t say it was a question mark against us, because we’ve shown battling qualities this season in periods of games, but you know if you give them any momentum in the game - they are very consistent in terms of their mentality - they can quickly get on top of you.

“Our defending from set pieces was excellent as well and if you’re going to be successful and if you’re going to be near the top of the table, sometimes you have to find different ways of winning and we’ve done that today.

“Tuesday night against Portsmouth it was completely different. We controlled a lot of the game, had a lot of possession, played some fantastic football and won the game 1-0.

“Today that was completely different. We didn’t really string too many passes together, which was a little bit disappointing, but that can be difficult in a hurley-burley game like this.

“I would have liked us to have kept the ball a little bit better than we did, but you also have to give the opposition some credit as well. They’ve got some very good players, particularly at home.

“You only have to look at their record so to come away and keep a clean sheet and limit them to virtually no chances, I couldn’t be more pleased with the players.”

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