McDonald wants away points for Pool

The Seasiders’ recent home record had been good until they managed just one point from the past week’s two games at Bloomfield Road.

That increased the pressure to get results on the road, starting at Swindon this afternoon, though McDonald’s side have taken just four points from their last seven games on their travels.

The Pool boss said: “I think performances are getting better away from home.

“We have started to pick up more points away and that’s something we need to continue to do.

“It certainly takes the pressure off if we can pick up points away.

“We try to be positive and I think we create plenty of chances. If they come, we must keep in the game.”

Pool were in the rare position of being favourites for the past week’s games against Shrewsbury and Oldham, though few will be betting against a home win this afternoon.

But McDonald hopes his side can exploit any space left by their attacking hosts.

He said: “You have to come out sometimes, and in the last couple of games the opposition have sat in and asked us to come out at them.

“But hopefully Swindon will come at us a little and leave spaces for us to counter-attack.

“Away from home our counter-attacking has been decent – we just haven’t taken the chances. We need to be clinical now.”

Blackpool travelled to Swindon with a fully-fit squad, with no new injury worries from Tuesday’s stalemate with Oldham.

McDonald will decide this morning whether to recall goalkeeper Colin Doyle after injury, while striker Martin Paterson is in contention to start.

Only long-term absentees Lloyd Jones and Henry Cameron missed the trip to Wiltshire.