Crawley 1-0 Blackpool: Four things we learned
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Wastefulness in front of goal reared its ugly head once again
Blackpool didn't play well on Saturday yet the chances were still there for them to get something from the game. The two clearest opportunities fell to Danny Philliskirk. The first, a weak header, was nodded straight into the 'keeper's hands while the second, a left-footed effort that fizzed inches wide of the post, was a poor miss. But he wasn't the only one to blame. Armand Gnanduillet and Kyle Vassell should have both done better with headers of their own. Crawley's goal came in controversial circumstances but had Blackpool been ruthless with their finishing earlier in the game, it wouldn't have been as significant as it proved to be.
Failure to win back-to-back games will prove costly
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Hide AdIf Blackpool have any ambition to make it into the top half of the league, never mind the play offs and beyond, they're going to have to learn to win consecutive games. It's something they've failed to do so far this season and their league position will not improve until they find some consistency. The cliché goes that you can't read too much into the league table until you're 10 games in. Well, the majority of sides have played 11 games now and Blackpool are back down to 16th. Pool's failure to follow up Tuesday night's 3-1 win against Portsmouth with a positive result against Crawley has been the story of the Seasiders' season so far.
MATCH REPORT: Crawley 1-0 BlackpoolSam Slocombe will be sitting a bit more comfortably
In the lead up to Saturday's game, Gary Bowyer had praised the performances of Dean Lyness who had come into the side to replace the injured Sam Slocombe. After two solid displays against Crewe and Blackpool, Bowyer said Lyness had earned the number one jersey. After the mistake which led to Crawley's winner on Saturday, Lyness may find it more challenging to hold onto his starting spot once Slocombe returns from his groin injury.
Andy Taylor will be a big miss
With no recognised defender on the bench for Blackpool, winger Colin Daniel was forced to fill in at left back when Taylor was forced off with a broken nose. If that injury keeps Taylor out of action for any meaningful length of time, I think Pool will struggle to replace him. Daniel did okay going forward but was left wanting defensively, which is to be expected given it's not his natural position. But the ease at which the Crawley wingers were getting past him on the touchline will have worried Bowyer.