McDonald sets six-point target

Neil McDonald has set his Blackpool side a six-point target from their next two League One games.
Neil McDonaldNeil McDonald
Neil McDonald

Pool face Shrewsbury tomorrow at Bloomfield Road before Oldham arrive on Tuesday, both sides deep in the relegation battle.

A four-match unbeaten run has left the Seasiders four points clear of the drop zone and McDonald wants to see the gap continue to grow.

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The manager said: “To pick up maximum points would be the aim for the next two games.

“Our home form is up with the best at the moment. We seem to be keeping clean sheets too and we must continue that. I think we have to start looking up the table.

“The results at home have been really good and everything seems to be clicking into place now. We don’t want to look too far ahead but we want to look up.”

Much has changed since Pool lost 2-0 at Shrewsbury in September, in terms of performance if not personnel.

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As many as seven of the players who started at Greenhous Meddow are likely to do so again tomorrow, but McDonald hopes Micky Mellon’s Shrews will see what advances Pool have made since.

He said: “We are a lot stronger now. We are a young bud which is starting to flower. We’ve improved a lot, although there’s a lot of improving to go between now and the end of the season.

“We have confidence, belief and the players know their roles now. We have adapted to League One and I expect us to finish the season stronger than we started it.”

While all is well on the pitch, problems off it continue to dominate discussion, with Pool’s main supporters group yet to decide whether to accept an invitation to meet with club chairman Karl Oyston next month.

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Blackpool Supporters’ Trust is to hold a members’ vote to determine whether to attend on March 10, but first the group wants its questions surrounding the meeting to be answered.

McDonald has been listed as a participant in the meeting but has no wish to be dragged into the debate.

“I don’t want to comment on anything off the pitch,” he insisted. “I’m the manager of the football team and that’s all I want to talk about.

“The supporters have been brilliant at home and are starting to get behind us now. If you win games, the support will improve.

“We are trying hard to get everyone onside, and if we keep winning games everyone will support the team.”