Blackpool players backed to pass a test of character

Jay Spearing has been speaking to the Blackpool squad according to Sean Longstaff

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The Seasiders, helped out by Longstaff’s goals, got off to a storming start to the League One season and found themselves in contention for a play-off spot.

But they have since drifted away from the top half of the table and now find themselves in the dangerous position of being just two points adrift of the relegation zone.

It comes after a miserable run of form that has seen the Seasiders win just two of their last 17 games.

Not only that, but Blackpool – who prepare to welcome Walsall to Bloomfield Road this afternoon – are without a win at home since October.

Longstaff acknowledged the recent form has not been good enough but the 20-year-old remains confident they will turn it around.

“We’ve got some good boys in the dressing room,” he said.

“Jay (Spearing) has done it at the highest level so he’s in there speaking and making sure everyone stays positive and goes again next week.

“We’ve been very good in training and there’s still a great spirit despite the recent results.

“We’ll just keep carrying on and hopefully turn the draws into wins and the performances into wins.”

Blackpool go into today’s game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at Bury last time out.

Longstaff put the Seasiders ahead with a superbly-dispatched volley from outside the area, but Bury equalised seven minutes from time when George Miller took advantage of some horror defending to score.

“It’s this sort of thing that seems to be killing us at the minute,” Longstaff added.

“We’re playing well and creating chances, but we’ve got to stop the silly mistakes that are costing us points and stopping us from going up the table.

“It’s a hard one to take because we were in control of the game at Bury for 80 minutes but they score a sloppy goal from our point of view.

“It was just that one lapse in concentration that has cost us, but hopefully we can move on, take the point and move on from it.

“So there’s a mixture of feelings but a lot of frustration. It’s the same sort of problem that keeps creeping in.”

Walsall, who drew 1-1 with Pool earlier in the season, are currently 16th in the league, two places and two points ahead of Blackpool.