Pool's play-off push starts at home

Blackpool midfielder Ian Black wants Bloomfield Road to become a fortress

Two of Pool’s last three fixtures come at home, starting today against Cheltenham Town.

They will then finish the season at Bloomfield Road with what will surely be a vital game against bottom-of-the-table Leyton Orient.

“You want your home to be a fortress and win every game here, especially for the supporters,” Black said.

“We’ve got two big games here, three altogether, and we’re confident of winning the lot.

“We went on a long unbeaten run and it would be nice to complete the run-in unbeaten too.

“We’ve got three games to achieve something, you can’t save yourself for the play-offs until you confirm them.

“You’ve got to give everything in the remaining games, then when you’ve won them you can recharge the batteries and focus again.”

Black, who signed on a free transfer until the end of the season back in February following his release from Shrewsbury Town, has found starts hard to come by with only one to his name so far.

The former Rangers man has had to settle for cameos off the bench but the 32-year-old is happy to play whatever role he is given.

With Jack Payne struggling for fitness ahead of this afternoon’s clash, Black knows he’s got to be ready when he’s given a chance.

He said: “I’ve been coming on at crucial points in matches which shows the faith the gaffer has in me.

“He’s wanted me to see games through and thankfully we’ve been on a good run for most of my time.”

Black, who spent more than a decade in Scottish football with Inverness, Hearts and Rangers, is enjoying life south of the border.

He added: “It’s different down here and it’s great to experience it. You can always look back on your career and say you’ve played in English football and I’m enjoying it.

“People knock Scottish football but it’s a good standard and plenty of players have come down and hit the ground running in England; I started my career here so I always wanted to come back.

“My wife’s English so I was always going to cross the border at some point. I’ve played at Shrewsbury and here now, and I’ve got plenty of time left still.”