Bowyer ‘can’t praise lads enough’ as new-look Blackpool earn Adams Park point

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by PA

Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer was delighted with the way his new-look side came through a tough test at promoted Wycombe as they earned a 0-0 draw.

Bowyer named eight summer signings in his starting line-up at Adams Park, including goalkeeper Mark Howard, who was beginning his second spell at the club.

The 31-year-old made a string of fine saves as the Seasiders held firm in the face of considerable pressure from the Chairboys, who were playing their first match in League One for six years.

Bowyer said: “It’s a hell of a battle you’ve got to go into with them and I thought we stood up to that very well.

“Don’t forget that they’ve got the core of their team that played last season and we’ve got on their pitch eight making their debuts.

“Two of those eight were Football League debuts, from non-league, so I can’t praise our lads enough, in terms of how they stuck together, how they thought for each other.

“Then as they grew into the game, they posed a threat and I think on the whole, a draw is probably a fair result for everybody.

“That’s some real promise for the lads to build on.

“They’ve had to show a side of their game today that we didn’t really know what they were like and, from that point of view, they’ve come out of it with massive credit and they can be pleased with how they’ve gone about it.”

One of the debutants, Chris Taylor, came closest to scoring in the first half when his superb free-kick came back off the post.

Howard then did well to claw away Michael Harriman’s long-range stunner and kept out Randell Williams’ low effort with his feet before Wycombe lost Harriman to a second booking late on.

The Chairboys’ boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “We probably had the lion’s share of chances today, which was great and a real positive start.

“There are one or two still a bit behind in pre-season and there’s the likes of Darius Charles, Nathan Tyson and Scott Kashket all to be added to the group.

“Dominic Gape failed a fitness test today and I need to replace Luke O’Nien, without a doubt he was a very special player we had there.

“But, having said that, the midfield was outstanding, the strikers worked their socks off – the metres on Paris [Cowan-Hall] and Randell must have been phenomenal, but that’s what it takes.

“That’s what they need to do and I want that every week.

“I want their work-rate, their work ethic, their humility and the desire to just be this team who survives for the first time in many years in this division and we’ll give it a right go this year.”