“There was a bit of a tiff, which happens in football”: Blackpool boss explains row at Sheffield Wednesday
Blackpool head coach has his say after his bust-up with a former team-mate.
Blackpool boss Ian Evatt has explained the circumstances behind his flare-up with former team-mate Barry Bannan during Sunday’s stalemate at Sheffield Wednesday.
The 1-1 draw at Hillsborough saw six players cautioned and a red card for the Owls’ Sil Swinkels as Evatt’s players climbed to 19th in League One.
The Seasiders’ head coach was also cautioned by referee Simon Mather after a bust-up with Bannan, who was on loan at Bloomfield Road from Aston Villa in the 2009/10 season.
Evatt said: “Me and Baz (Bannan), I don’t know how Barry has not been booked.
“Look, I like Baz, he’s one of my ex-team-mates. He is a good guy and a brilliant footballer, but my team, when I’m here, I want to win and that’s a clear yellow card on Josh Bowler - didn’t get booked and he didn’t like it very much that I was asking for a yellow card.
“There was a bit of a tiff, which happens in football, but I’m sure when I see him I’ll shake hands with him and say it’s nothing personal.
“It’s just about winning and he feels the same, so I’m not sure why I got booked. I stayed in my technical area, but it is what it is.”
The point made it four from a possible nine for Blackpool, coming after their win over MK Dons and defeat to Mansfield Town.
Having trailed to Davis Keillor-Dunn’s first-half goal, Swinkels’ dismissal meant Pool played against 10 men for 50 minutes but only had Jerry Yates’ late leveller to show for their efforts.
Evatt added: “I think we could have won this game today.
“I thought that 11 v 11, I thought the way we started the game was exactly what we had spoken about.
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“It looked the same, we just gave up a silly goal with a bad mistake, but this (Sheffield Wednesday) is a wonderful football club.
“I’ve obviously spent a lot of my life in Chesterfield, I know how big this club is; I’ve a lot of respect for it, I think it’s fantastic.
“I know I’m probably public enemy number one today, but I just want to win for my team, and I know their fans, and Barry’s the same as that.”