Bowyer: Pool players' response will be key

The Seasiders have no time to dwell on the 2-2 draw at Exeter City as they return to league action with two home games in five days, starting with the Bees tonight.

The draw at Exeter came after Bowyer’s men had squandered a 2-0 goal lead for the second game running, having suffered similar late disappointment against Crewe Alexandra the week before.

The Pool boss was left furious with his players and questioned their desire and will to win in his post-match interview, but insists there is only one way to put things right and that’s by turning in an improved performance against Barnet.

He said: “The players that are on the pitch are the ones who make the decisions and as a result we haven’t been able to see out a two-goal lead for the second week running.

“We will see now the reaction from the players on Tuesday. We’ve now got to produce winners, they’ve got to be winners and that comes from within.

“If they don’t want to then they won’t play.”

Exeter’s goals came at the worst possible time for the Seasiders, with Paul Tisdale’s men pulling a goal back in first half injury time before equalising at the death in second half stoppage time.

“As a result of that I’m not very happy at all with them,” Bowyer added.

“The manner of the two goals is just not good enough from some of them.

“You can’t be saying concentration with a minute to go until half-time and a minute to go before the end of the game, that’s when the concentration has got to be at its most.”

Tonight’s game against Barnet presents the Seasiders with a priceless opportunity to end their winless run at Bloomfield Road, where they haven’t won in the league since November.

Barnet are in an inconsistent spell themselves, with just one win to their name in their last eight games.

They still remain above Pool in the league table though, currently sitting in 12th place and five points off the play-off spots.

Earlier this month they confirmed the appointment of Kevin Nugent as their new manager following the departure of Martin Allen to National League side Eastleigh.

The former Charlton Athletic coach, who has had caretaker spells in charge of Swansea, in 2007, and Leyton Orient, in 2009 and 2014, has overseen a draw against Portsmouth and a defeat against Cambridge United in his first two games in charge.

Nugent refused to be downbeat following his first loss at Barnet and will be looking for more cutting edge at Blackpool on Tuesday after failing to net from 15 attempts on goal during their 1-0 defeat to Cambridge.

“There are a lot of positives to come from this game,” he said. “The negative is the result and we need to take our chances as well.

“I’m very disappointed with the result but not so much the performance.

“We had numerous chances but their keeper didn’t have a save to make.”

“There was a lot of effort from that team. They’re so disappointed in that dressing room because they knew they should have done better.

“At this stage of the season it’s about winning games.”