“I wanted to see a reaction from Saturday, I got that”: Blackpool boss pleased with midweek performance

Ian Evatt admitted he got the response he wanted with Blackpool’s midweek victory in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.

The Seasiders went into their final Northern Group B game on the back of a 4-1 home loss to Mansfield Town in League One the weekend before.

Fletcher Boyd put Villa ahead at Bloomfield Road before Zac Ashworth, Jerry Yates and Jordan Brown saw Evatt’s players 3-1 in front.

Although Markie Meade pulled one back in added time, it was too late to prevent Blackpool from picking up a first 90-minute win in the Trophy this season.

They needed a victory to have any chance of progressing into the knockout stages, though they will not know their fate until next month.

Beating Villa saw the Seasiders climb above Crewe Alexandra into second place and the last qualification spot in Group B.

However, Crewe will progress with a point from their final group game against already-qualified Wigan Athletic on November 10.

Acknowledging that Blackpool finished Tuesday’s game with their fate still up in the air, Evatt said Tuesday’s performance contained all the elements he hoped for ahead of Sunday’s match at Sheffield Wednesday.

“We did what we had to do,” Blackpool’s head coach said.

“We’ve won the game and that’s all I wanted to see.

“I wanted to see a reaction from Saturday, I got that.

“I wanted to see some more physicality, some more energy, intensity, especially on the back of that second half Saturday; we got that.

“(There’s) Positives to take, we’ll just get ready now for Sunday.”

Wednesday played on the same evening, as their first game since the departure of manager Henrik Pedersen brought a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United in League One.

The Owls had led through Mason Burstow before two former Seasiders combined for Cambridge’s leveller, Shayne Lavery setting up Sullay Kaikai.