Pool boss calls for cool heads

Gary Bowyer looks on as his Blackpool team emphatically defeat Notts County at Bloomfield Road

The Seasiders returned to the top half of the League Two table for the first time since the start of September following their 4-0 thrashing of Notts County at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

But Bowyer believes the win, which elevates Blackpool to ninth and just a point off the play-offs, is only the starting point for his side.

“We were pleased with how we went about it. To score four goals at home and to keep a clean sheet is impressive,” he said.

“But we’re not going to get carried away. We’ve talked before about it being a building job and it takes time.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and even today, there were aspects of our play which we can improve on. We’ve got to keep working hard and it’s a long, long season.”

In-form striker Kyle Vassell capped off a fine individual performance with two goals, having also had a helping hand in both Jamille Matt’s and Colin Daniel’s efforts.

And it was Vassell, who bagged his seventh and eighth league goals of the season against the Magpies, who handed his side the lead with a fine left-footed finish in the first half.

Bowyer, who lauded Vassell with praise after the final whistle, said it was his breakthrough that made all the difference.

He added: “They are a good team with a good manager and we knew it was going to be tough, but that first goal was the all-important one.

“We were fortunate we got a bit of luck with the ricochet but Kyle stuck it away ever so well.”

The Pool boss also singled out Vassell’s strike partner Jamille Matt, who struck in the second half to extend the Seasiders’ lead.

It was his second goal for the club after netting for the first time during Pool’s 2-0 FA Cup win against Kidderminster Harriers last week.

Matt’s goal against Notts County also came after the former Fleetwood man had missed an open goal in the first half.

Bowyer said: “We’ve said a few times this season Kyle is unplayable but today he really was. He was awesome.

“So was Jamille Matt, too. What was excellent was the character Jamille showed after missing that chance and the spirit of the rest of the lads, because they rallied around him especially at half time in the dressing room.

“And then to show that spirit to go and put the one that he did was tremendous.”