Blackpool struggled to take control of the game at Bloomfield Road as a much improved Wimbledon claimed a last minute point

Blackpool dropped two vital points against a much-improved Wimbledon side on Saturday afternoon at Bloomfield Road.

A deflected Jerry Yates effort hit Ellis Simms in the 59^th minute, wrongfooting Dons goalkeeper Sam Walker and giving the hosts the lead, before an Ollie Palmer flick in the dying minutes gave the visitors a well-earned point.

This game was never really in the Seasiders’ control, with Mark Robinson’s side surprising with just how positive and effective they were both on and off the ball for most of the game.

Ryan Longman ran James Husband ragged on the right flank, with the ball in behind catching the full back out on several occasions in the first half, allowing a ball across the box to Joe Pigott who couldn’t convert.

Demetri Mitchell had to offer extra defensive support as the game went on, allowing Neil Critchley’s side to double up on Longman and provide a platform to build on with Mitchell being instrumental on the counter also.

Mitchell was probably the best player in a Tangerine shirt this afternoon, providing pace on the break that disrupted the Wimbledon organisation and allowed Blackpool to get Jerry Yates into the game.

Having said that, general control of possession was few and far between, other than a spell at the start of the second half, with Wimbledon pressing well in the central midfield areas, with their two wide men sitting narrow to outnumber Matty Virtue and Kevin Stewart.

Stewart worked well to still provide an outball at times when it was clear the Dons had targeted him with their press, being the key playmaker.

Ellis Simms was chasing down lost causes up top and tried to provide a target for Blackpool to hit direct when playing through the midfield was proving difficult, however his touch was lacking when it mattered in order to bring others into play.

The tempo that was set by the home side was lower than what they have tended to provide so far this season and their frustration at being quite passive due to Wimbledon’s off the ball work was showing, Yates gaining a needless yellow card for a push on Rudoni 25 minutes in.

That is now two consecutive games where the opposition have looked to press the holding midfield area for Blackpool to force them out wide. Now Wimbledon were nowhere near as effective as Crewe at halting their build up play, but it certainly did not help matters.

Yet, as much as Wimbledon were impressive in this one and very much a different side to the one that has been on show for large parts of this campaign, Blackpool were not at the races.

Now this must be caveated with the fact that the Seasiders have now made it 11 games unbeaten at home, without a defeat at Bloomfield Road since October and five points out of nine against Charlton, Crewe and Wimbledon is a respectable return, but with aspirations of a playoff place, you have to capitalise on games like this.

Blackpool have done well this season at shutting out games in the final moments, winning a lot of games by a single goal, but they were always quite open at the back today and an equaliser was always a possibility.

Four changes heading into the game may potentially have disrupted the flow of the system with Mitchell not having many opportunities this season, likewise Oliver Turton becoming a second choice at full back as the season has gone on.

However, those changes were required because of the intensity of the game against Crewe in midweek and with a tough run of games continuing, ultimately Blackpool should have still had enough to beat this Wimbledon side.

Jordan Thorniley put in a good performance in this one and it proved the importance of sticking by a player after an off game. Thorniley’s confidence will have grown throughout proceedings as he swept up anything that came at him and he will grow and build from his error in midweek.

Virtue continued to provide energy in midfield and drove Blackpool on in moments where they were looking likely to fall on to the backfoot, however he and Stewart were outnumbered in the central areas for most of the game.

Perhaps the switch to 4-3-3 that happened with 20 minutes to go when Kenny Dougall came on, should have happened sooner.

It was clear that Wimbledon were sitting narrow in order to control the centre of the pitch and it allowed them to open up space for their full backs to run into to drive them forward out wide, had Blackpool adapted to that and had an extra pass available in the centre, they could have potentially played through that press.

All in all, there are a few lessons to be learned by Critchley after this one, but yet again it is another game where Blackpool were not at their best and still came away with a point.

With those around them having their struggles at present and surprise results being thrown up at random as the back end of the season approaches, it is important now more than ever that if you can’t win you don’t lose and that is what Blackpool did.

Critchley will be able to call upon a couple of his injury absentees in the near future and there will be a real feeling that the playoff charge can continue, they cannot afford to have too many more afternoons like this though.

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