“We needed to sit into more of a block”: Ian Evatt outlines Blackpool’s team selection at Sheffield Wednesday
Blackpool head coach explained the thinking behind his weekend team changes.
Ian Evatt admitted Blackpool’s weekend team selection drew inspiration from a number of their performances last season.
The Seasiders’ boss made three changes for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, where Jerry Yates cancelled out Davis Keillor-Dunn’s opener.
Asked why he made those alterations, Evatt said: “I just thought our game plan would be different today.
“I thought we needed to sit into more of a block and not allow them space, have the extra defender on the pitch, encourage them to use the big pitch and counter-attack and transition.
“We did that really successfully last season; Reading away last game (1-0 win), Ipswich away in the FA Cup (2-1 loss); that was a really good performance.
“We did it at Cardiff (0-0 draw) and got a good result, so the players can do that - we just felt today was the right time to bring that side of us out and try to steal it on transition.
“The hard part was we worked on that all week and then the game flips on its head, and it’s the opposite.
“I thought that was where we just lost our way a little bit, but I’m grateful that we got the point.”
Having trailed to Keillor-Dunn’s goal, Blackpool saw their hosts reduced to 10 men when Sil Swinkels was dismissed before half-time.
Evatt responded with the half-time introduction of Josh Bowler for Andy Lyons, followed by four more substitutions midway through the half.
“We didn’t need that extra defender on,” Evatt said of Bowler’s arrival.
“We felt like we were going to have a lot of possession, which we did.
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“We just needed another attacker on the pitch and that’s what we felt like with the four changes after that.
“We needed Fin (Munroe) to join in more from centre-back.
“We didn’t need Zac (Ashworth) on, more of a natural centre-back, and he is used to playing further forward than Hayden (Coulson) is.
“Managing to impact it from the bench is crucial for us. Having that squad available is crucial, we could just do with one or two more defenders available.
“After that, let’s just keep moving forwards and enjoying a decent result today and get ready for next week.”