Bowyer defends system switch after Blackpool defeat

Gary Bowyer defended his decision to change a winning formula and tinker with Blackpool's formation in the home defeat by Doncaster Rovers.
Gary BowyerGary Bowyer
Gary Bowyer
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But Bowyer tore up that formation, opting instead to go with a 3-5-2 system that he has previously used to good effect to counter Doncaster’s diamond.

But it didn’t pay dividends as Doncaster came away with a 2-1 win, their first away from home since December, thanks to a Tommy Rowe brace.

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When asked if the success of the system in previous games against Doncaster was the main catalyst for using it again, Bowyer said: “A little bit but I also wanted to get two centre forwards up there against them.

“We thought Nathan (Delfouneso) and Armand (Gnanduillet) would give them some trouble but first half that didn’t prove to be the case. We made the change at half-time and Danny (Philliskirk) made a big change for us.

“He got into some good areas and provided a great cross for Armand.”

Asked in hindsight whether he thought the decision to change the system was wrong, Bowyer replied: “No. Would you be asking that question if we had drawn or won? No, you wouldn’t, would you?

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“So if you had said we were rubbish for the whole game, then you could be justified with that question.

“But just because of the result I’m not too sure you’re justified with that question.

“We were better in the second half and that’s because of the shape.“But we will regroup, we will go again and take the positives to get ready for an exciting local derby on Monday.”

Doncaster held a 1-0 lead at the break after what had been a dire first half low on chances; Rowe the man netting with a deflected effort.

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But the Seasiders came out fighting at the start of the second half and levelled through Colin Daniel, and even had chances to take the lead.

But Rowe added a second from a clever free kick routine after Curtis Tilt had been harshly penalised for a foul to win it for the visitors, leaving Blackpool nervously looking over their shoulders at the bottom of the League One table.

The Seasiders remain seven points clear of the bottom four but Monday’s opponents, Oldham Athletic, still have two games in hand to play.

Bowyer added: “It’s disappointing to lose because I thought we were worthy of a point. We conceded two poor goals from our point of view.

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“To get done how we get done is a sucker-punch because I’ve just watched the ‘foul’ back for their second seven or eight times and I can’t see how it’s been given.

“But I thought he was appalling the referee (Ollie Yates). But we’ve said that week in, week out.

“We don’t get anything. I’m pretty sick of it to be honest.”