Boss salutes touch of class from Mark Cullen in Blackpool's first league win

The returning Mark Cullen provided the clinical touch Blackpool had been lacking but caretaker boss Terry McPhillips hailed the defence as his Seasiders clinched their first League One win of the season.
Mark Cullen celebrates Blackpool's openerMark Cullen celebrates Blackpool's opener
Mark Cullen celebrates Blackpool's opener
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MATCH REPORT: Blackpool 2 Coventry 0

McPhillips, still at the helm more than a fortnight on from Gary Bowyer’s resignation, praised his defence for denying the newly promoted Sky Blues a single effort on target.

He said: “I’ve just seen the stats – not a shot on target. Credit to all the lads there.”

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He also praised keeper Mark Howard, who has been beaten in only one of Pool’s four league outings.

“Mark has been superb. He played his part and is a keeper who wants to make a clean sheet.”

McPhillips also hailed his scorers, though admitted he is none the wiser over his future at the club.

He added: “I’m made up for Cully.

“That is what he does – he gets in between the sticks.

“It was a great ball in from Ollie Turton. We’ve asked him to play midfield and he has done it superbly.

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“I’m delighted for Mark and for Joe Dodoo. He is a willing runner. I think his attitude was fantastic, his work-rate was dangerous.

“It was a hell of a clearance by Michael Nottingham. Joe gets on the end of it and finishes it off.”

Cullen was one of seven changes McPhillips made from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury.

He says that competition is rife, and that despite this win he will still have a headache selecting his side to face Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

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He said: “Winning football matches is fantastic. They are buzzing in the dressing room there – first home league win and the manner in which we did it.

“A clean sheet and two strikers scoring the goals.

“There were lots of positive performances and it’s going to be tricky picking a team and a squad for Saturday.

“Competition is high and I think it is fair to say that all the squad have had a couple of games now.

“Now you can really start assessing what they have done but we are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday.”