'You can’t always play pretty football and win': Neil Critchley gives his verdict on Blackpool's scrappy victory against Rochdale

An early Sullay Kaikai goal was the difference between the two sides as Blackpool got back to winning ways following the 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town in their last outing.

The Seasiders endured back-to-back postponements following that loss at Portman Road, with home games against Burton Albion and Peterborough United both falling to the wayside.

With a 10-day break, Critchley’s side were far from their best against lowly Dale, especially in the second-half, but they held on for a clean sheet and the three points to cut the gap on the League One play-offs, with games in hand still to play.

“If you can’t be at your best, you still need to be able to find a way to win the game,” Critchley said.

“I thought we played some good football in the first-half, moved the ball well and created some good opportunities.

“In the second-half we showed our defensive resilience, character and spirit and defended the goal well. We had to do the ugly side of the game and I thought we did it very well.

“I would have liked us to have been better on the ball, but the last time we had a 10-day break between games we went to Shrewsbury, looked flat and got beat.

“You could say at times we looked like that tonight, but you can’t always play pretty football and win. We had to show a different side to our game tonight.

“But I’d much rather be sitting here having not played well and won 1-0, than played well and lost which we have done at times this season.”

While Dale had the upper hand in the second-half, Blackpool limited them and kept Brian Barry-Murphy’s side at arm’s length.

“Rochdale play some good, expansive football, but they played their football in areas we wanted them to,” Critchley added.

“When they did get near our box I thought we defended extremely well, whether that be corners, free-kicks...we probably gave too many away for my liking but we defended those moments very well.

“As a team, we got a clean sheet and that’s helped us to get the win. After 10 days of not playing, it’s nice to get back to winning ways after the Ipswich defeat.

“Those 10 days where you psychologically and physically prepare for games, only for them to be called off and you don’t play, you lose rhythm sometimes and that showed a bit tonight.

“However, we’ve now won three of our last four so we’re on a decent run. We need to go to Portsmouth now and obviously try and get something.

“You only have to look at the results tonight. Portsmouth have lost against Bristol Rovers and Ipswich have drawn at home to Northampton. It just shows you what a difficult league this is.”

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