Southend boss Sol Campbell gives his verdict on 2-1 defeat to Blackpool

Sol Campbell bemoaned his Southend United side's first-half display following their 2-1 defeat to Blackpool.
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The Seasiders, desperate for a first league win since December 7, came out of the traps quickly.

But Simon Grayson's side had to remain patient, their opener coming on 37 minutes through Armand Gnanduillet, the Frenchman heading home from Liam Feeney's cross.

Southend boss Sol CampbellSouthend boss Sol Campbell
Southend boss Sol Campbell
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Blackpool eventually added a second just after the hour mark when Gnanduillet completed his brace with a penalty for his 17th goal of the season.

But the Shrimpers ensured a nervy finish when Stephen McLaughlin fired home an exquisite long-range strike.

"If we had started the game like we did in the second half, we’d have got something out of the game," Campbell said post-match.

"In the first half we didn’t win any second balls, we were kind of lethargic in our play and we just weren’t at the races.

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"You’ve got to be on it – last week’s gone now and it’s all about this week now, this game.

"We’ve got to start again, reboot and put all the effort in, and second half we showed that. They didn’t have many shots on target, but they had the right amount of shots and we’ve lost 2-1.

"We got back in, the fight was there, the passing was there, the last third play was better, we were more assertive in the last third and we won second balls in and around the box second half.

"Overall, it was full-on second half but first half we can’t really start games like that."

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On McLaughlin’s goal, the former England and Arsenal defender added: "It was a fantastic strike, but he had a very good chance in the first half to put us 1-0 up and then the game can totally change from there.

"He had a really good chance; the keeper’s done really good and closed the angle but if that goes in then we’ve got a chance in the game.

"Goals change games is the old saying, but we’ve got to really take those chances.

"His second half goal though was fantastic, it was a great strike. He’s come close in the last three or four games, just missing out on scoring here and there, so I was glad to see that one go in."