Blackpool left Bloomfield Road frustrated in a goalless affair against Accrington that everyone will forget

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Blackpool struggled to play through the lines in a poor showing against a stubborn and well-organised Accrington.

The Seasiders lacked the depth in creative options off the bench due to injuries and it resulted in the game filtering out as they struggled to provide the spark to carve open Stanley.

A late Colby Bishop penalty was saved by Chris Maxwell to ensure Blackpool’s impressive unbeaten streak at home continued, but the Seasiders were not at their fluid best.

As the season draws in to the final stages results are quite unpredictable in League One and performances even more so.

Having looked well in control against Lincoln on Saturday, Blackpool faltered in the last third of the game and dropped two precious points on the road.

Most times during the season an event like that has seen a major reaction from Neil Critchley’s side, a deviance against a small chance that people would begin to write them off.

This sort of mentality has seen them challenge at the very top of the table and has allowed them a chance of reaching the Championship.

But sometimes over the course of a draining 46 game season you will have moments where you are not able to give that extra push to get things over the line.

What separates those that will be promoted to those that won’t is that when these performances play out on the pitch, defeat is never on the cards.

When players like Chris Maxwell can pull off the big save or Dan Ballard pulls off the last-ditch tackle, holding out for glory at the end of the season becomes an inevitability.

Though Blackpool cannot rely on those moments if they seek to find the promised land.

There has to be a dynamism to their play that can break down sides that come to Bloomfield Road and make no effort to play on the front foot themselves.

In recent times Blackpool have struggled to take control of games against teams lower down the table, whether that be the dropped points against Plymouth, Wimbledon or Fleetwood just to name a few.

Critchley’s side are too quick to resort to direct play and without Gary Madine in the frame, it leaves Ellis Simms chasing down lost causes and struggling to hold up the play, as has been well documented this is not his game.

Blackpool look patient and trust in their ability to provide the winning blow when they control possession in the midfield.

When they know they have the upper hand in that regard it breeds confidence throughout the team and that brings a fluidity to their play that inevitably opens up teams before long.

But it is not always going to be in Blackpool’s favour in this division, there are games where teams will remain resolute, battle in the central areas and look to impose themselves in the air from direct balls.

In this games that trust in the system and the way of doing things needs to be paramount but of even more importance is the tempo that the team spread the play in order to open up spaces in behind.

Blackpool looked slow and passive in possession in the deep central midfield areas but what makes things frustrating and bound to play out in a draw was the lazy direct play when spaces were not available.

Patience is a virtue in this system.

It works because the trust is there in what is being done and at times Blackpool allow themselves to be drawn into the physical battle and the scrap with 50/50 aerial duels rather than remaining patient, probing with possession, and creating an opening that way.

Common sense says that the intensity of Blackpool’s play cannot keep up every game week in week out but it is important that they maintain rhythm and tempo to their play when things are not falling for them.

The final throw of the dice is upon the League One season and as results around the playoff places saw big defeats; the Seasiders have the key in their pocket.

When the performance is poor, they still do not lose.

 

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