Bowyer: We made the game harder than it needed to be

MATCH REPORT: Gillingham 0-3 Blackpool

The Seasiders were dominant in a first half that saw them go into the interval two goals ahead thanks to goals from Kyle Vassell and Nathan Delfouneso.

Pool were handed an opportunity to add a third at the start of the second half, but Jay Spearing hit his penalty against the foot of the post - meaning the Seasiders are still yet to score a spot kick this season.

This handed Gillingham the initiative and they enjoyed a spell of pressure, which they were unable to capitalise on.

The game was then put to bed in the final 10 minutes when Kelvin Mellor came off the bench to score the decisive third goal to wrap up the points.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Bowyer felt his players could have made life easier for themselves.

"It shouldn’t have been as hard as we made it," he said.

“I thought we started off ever so well and hit the bar early on when we should score.

“But we got our noses in front. I think it was a superb free kick from Jimmy Ryan to test the young lad on his debut, and then it was well followed up by Vass.

“Then we score another good goal with Nathan Delfouneso getting in at the near post.

“We had opportunities to take it further, without ever really being in trouble first half. But we knew Gillingham would keep going and would keep putting the ball in the box.

“We spoke at half time about concentrating, doing the basics and making it simpler for ourselves but we went and did the exact opposite.

“Second half we have a great opportunity right at the start to make it a slightly easier for ourselves, but we miss the penalty and make it hard work for ourselves.

“That gave them a massive lift, it gave the crowd a massive lift and we had to dig in.

“It took us a while and we had to withstand a bit of pressure as you might expect.

“So we had to keep fighting and keep digging in. Eventually we score a great third goal as well.

“I’m delighted with the goals we scored, but we always score good goals.

“First half I enjoyed watching us, second half it was painful - and it shouldn’t have been.

“But that’s the first time since 2010 I think that a team of Blackpool’s has won four on a trot, so we’ll try and recover well and make it five next week.

“At the end of the day, we’ve scored three away from home and kept a clean sheet, so I’m obviously delighted.

“But we could have made it a lot easier for ourselves.

“We wish a safe journey home for the supporters because they came in their numbers again, which was brilliant. Their support is greatly appreciated."