McDonald tells players to keep on celebrating

Neil McDonald wants his players to keep on celebrating '“ despite it leading to a red card for Jack Redshaw.
Blackpool fans get carried away celebrating Jack Redshaw's opening goalBlackpool fans get carried away celebrating Jack Redshaw's opening goal
Blackpool fans get carried away celebrating Jack Redshaw's opening goal

The striker was booked for ‘over-celebrating’ his opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crewe, then received a second yellow card for a foul moments later.

While referee Kevin Johnson’s decision didn’t cost the Seasiders in the end, manager McDonald thinks it was a poor one.

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The Pool boss said: “I’ll never tell a player off for celebrating in front of their own fans.

“Obviously they have to try to stay on the pitch if they can – but if you’ve scored a goal, go and celebrate.

“He celebrated with his fans after scoring his first goal since January and he got booked.

“It’s sad that led to a sending-off. It’s ridiculous.

“It’s sad when you can’t celebrate with your own fans after scoring a goal.”

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Blackpool eventually won the game thanks to a late Tom Aldred winner and a stoppage- time penalty miss by Crewe striker Brad Inman.

Redshaw’s red card means he misses Friday’s game against Bury at Bloomfield Road, another clash which could be vital to Pool’s League One survival.

His second yellow card came after he fouled former Seasider David Fox, another decision the manager wasn’t happy with.

McDonald fumed: “Jack has tried to bring the ball down and the lad has put his head down.

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“The referee couldn’t wait to get his red card out, which was disappointing. There was no malice at all.

“I spoke to David Fox and he thought it was a pure accident.”

The dismissal forced Pool to play more than half the game with 10 men but they still managed to create plenty more chances.

And McDonald was over the moon with his side’s response. He said: “We did well with 10 men. We played on the counter-attack really well with Mark Cullen up front on his own.

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“I think our play deserved the win. It would have been harsh had we not won the game. The sending-off made things difficult for us but we got through it and I was delighted.”

Blackpool face a huge Easter double-header, with the Shakers clash followed by a relegation six-pointer at Doncaster on Monday.

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