Neil Critchley: I'll make sure Blackpool don't take foot off the gas

Neil Critchley says he’ll make sure complacency doesn’t set in among his Blackpool players.
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It comes after the Seasiders climbed into the League One play-offs for the first time this season by beating second-placed Peterborough United 3-1 on Tuesday.

Jerry Yates bagged his 15th and 16th goals of the season, while Luke Garbutt fired in Blackpool’s third, his second goal in just three games.

Neil Critchley congratulates his players after Tuesday's win over PeterboroughNeil Critchley congratulates his players after Tuesday's win over Peterborough
Neil Critchley congratulates his players after Tuesday's win over Peterborough
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In moving into the top six, and still with games in hand, the Seasiders extended their unbeaten run to 10.

“It’s nice, psychologically it’s good,” head coach Critchley said. “But I said to the players after the game – as quickly as you can move up in this division you can move down. There will be no complacency from us at all.

“I’ve got enough experience and senior players in that dressing room, and I’ll put pressure on them to make sure we’re right on it.

“We’ll be back on it on Thursday. I don’t want any sloppiness. No-one is going to turn up late. Thursday is another day and we get ready for Plymouth on Saturday.

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“The only downer from Tuesday is that we conceded a goal because I don’t think we deserved to. It should have been a clean sheet. We’re looking like a good team with the ball and without the ball but we need to continue that.

“We’ve got 12 games left but a lot can happen in this league and things can change very quickly.

“Fingers crossed we have a clean bill of health and we can prepare for Plymouth.”

Critchley was delighted with the mentality shown by his side in recovering from the cruel setback of Posh’s equaliser.

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Pool dominated the opening 45 minutes and ought to have added to Yates’ very early strike from long range, but they were pegged back in stoppage time by Joe Ward’s moment of brilliance.

Critchley added: “It was a terrific strike from the lad but those sort of shots can end up in row Z. You could slice the ball but he’s caught it brilliantly well. It was a great strike.

“But I didn’t feel they deserved to be level at half-time. The players knew that as well. They felt we had played well and just had to carry on doing what we were doing.

“It didn’t affect them and it was a great response. We started well on top and deservedly went back in front.

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“That’s what we’ve been guilty of in these last few home games – when we’ve had the domination we haven’t scored.

“But a two-goal lead allowed us to be a little bit calmer defending the lead.”

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