Blackpool turned the game around against Burton as a switch in approach almost provided three points

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Neil Critchley’s side finally trusted themselves to be brave and play in tight areas and it completely turned the tide against a well organised Burton Albion.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Brewers opened the scoring in a dominant first 30 minutes through a Hayden Carter header, before a second half onslaught from the Seasiders resulted in a drilled Luke Garbutt effort firing past Ben Garratt to level affairs.

Burton began the game as they have ever since Hasselbaink returned to the club.

They were well organised, looking to use their aerial advantage by playing Lucas Akins out wide to pin Blackpool into their own half, whilst pressing high with urgency to break up any potential build up play.

Long throw after long throw caused the hosts all manner of problems at the back and another ball into the box eventually led to the opening goal.

Burton know what their strengths are and they use them effectively, but something that became apparent was that their press could be breached, Blackpool just had to be brave in possession and trust themselves to play through it and they were not in the first 30 minutes.

On a number of occasions, Kenny Dougall found space in between the lines and, had the hosts been brave and played it through to him, it would have opened up opportunities.

Instead, they lazily went direct to Ellis Simms who was unable to win the ball in the air or hold up play from those passes in the same manner that Gary Madine would were he in the side.

Simms was hung out to dry until his half time substitution.

Direct play is not his game, he looks to get in behind and is an instinctive finisher. He cannot be expected to play the role that Madine would in the 4-4-2 formation and evidently Neil Critchley realised this with his half time exit.

Having said that, in the final ten minutes of the first half, Blackpool improved, they started to trust themselves on the ball and began to open up Burton, particularly through Sullay Kaikai who seemed to be given more of a free role from that point and it paid dividends.

Now, there are risks involved in terms of defensive responsibilities allowing Kaikai to venture more narrow and in pockets of space, but ultimately if your side has the ball and are pinning the opposition back with an energy in your play, defensive responsibility is less of a concern.

In the second half, Blackpool imposed their game on to the opposition, something which they have not done for a while now.

This is the best of what Critchley’s side can offer.

They have the quality to build up possession in tight areas, under pressure from a high press, with movement in behind the initial press to open up passing lanes for defenders to play into.

Elliot Embleton made a huge impact coming on at half time.

His movement to draw out the Burton midfield allowed Kaikai, Yates and Mitchell more freedom to cut inside and open up the overlap for Luke Garbutt and Ollie Turton respectively.

Garbutt excelled with this extra freedom, providing the equaliser but also creating a number of opportunities for the hosts in the latter stages as well, with his set piece proficiency a major asset to the Tangerines.

Without Gary Madine, it is hard to say Blackpool being able to play a 4-4-2 successfully.

4-2-3-1 was the shift in the second half and it forced the hosts to be brave on the ball and sometimes they need that initial push to realise they have the ability to play that way.

This has to be seen as the building block for Blackpool heading into vital games against Oxford and Peterborough, in recent weeks they have allowed the opposition to impose their game on them before reacting after 30 minutes to bring themselves back into proceedings.

It is about time the Seasiders were brave and trusted in the process and started with the intensity and intelligence that this second half display showcased.

There will be moments where the risk does not pay off and mistakes happen, it is natural particularly at this level playing in that manner, but it is more likely to create opportunities in front of goal and they have already proven they can rely on their backline to cover.

All in all, there is so much more still to come from Blackpool and with a number of high profile absentees still to return to the fold, the playoff chase is very much in sight.

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