Vassell seeks an answer to Seasiders mystery

The Seasiders were unable to take advantage of Vassell’s impressive brace as the Gloucestershire outfit held on for a 2-2 draw at Whaddon Road.

Gary Bowyer’s men were in charge of proceedings for much of the game but found themselves thwarted by the impressive Robins keeper, Russell Griffiths, on a number of occasions.

Despite speaking of his disappointment at Blackpool’s inability to produce back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Vassell said the Tangerines are heading in the right direction.

“We’ve got to take the positives,” he said. “It’s a point away from home and towards the end of the season these points we’re picking up will be important.

“But we want to get up the other end of the league and we’ve got to win games to do that.

“I’m scratching my head because I don’t know how we don’t win these games. We’ve got to keep going, to keep battling together, and it will turn.”

The former Peterborough man equalised for Blackpool in the final minute of normal time in the first half, finishing off after the Seasiders had broken at speed from their own box.

After Cheltenham had regained the lead in first half injury time, Vassell got his side back on level terms for the second time with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.

“I’m glad to have scored two but we should have won the game, so that’s disappointing,” Vassell added.

“For my second goal, (Jack) Payne set it up perfectly for me and originally I wasn’t going to shoot, I was going to take a touch and slide someone in. But it sat up perfectly and I thought ‘I’ve just got to put my foot through it,’ and luckily it went in.”

Vassell’s brace took him above Brad Potts in the club’s scoring charts, with six goals in the league and eight in all competitions.

He added: “I want to keep going and see how many I can get, but I want to win first and foremost. It doesn’t feel as good when you don’t win. I’d rather score one and win than five and not win.”