Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips bemoans bad luck as Black Cats take victory

Posted Wednesday, January 02, 2019 by PA

Terry McPhillips believes his Blackpool side were short on luck and deserved at least a point after they went down 1-0 to Sunderland.

The Seasiders are now five games without a win in Sky Bet League One after Josh Maja’s first-half strike was enough to seal victory for The Black Cats.

McPhillips’ men rallied after the break but were unable to draw level, with Sunderland defender Jack Baldwin clearing their best chance off the line.

“It probably took us 20 minutes to get going, until they scored, but once we did, we were more than a match for them,” McPhillips said.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t stick it in the net. We had some really good chances. The one that gets cleared off the line, it’s just so close. We’re not getting any luck there.

“That’s hard to take because it doesn’t quite cross the line. The view is from the camera behind the goal – you’re talking about inches.

“Their lad actually kicks it onto the post and then it goes into the keeper’s hands, so we haven’t had any luck.

“I thought we deserved at least a draw. It was a really close game, and they’re a really good side. I think any neutral coming here would say we deserved at least a draw.”

Sunderland supporters outnumbered the home fans almost two-to-one as 7,804 travelled to the game.

They celebrated as Maja grabbed his 14th league goal of the season, sneaking ahead of his marker to flick in Aiden McGeady’s cross for the winner.

Boss Jack Ross said his side were made to work hard for their points, as they sit third behind Portsmouth and Luton in the race for promotion.

But it has not been easy going in any of their league matches, according to the Black Cats’ manager.

“Every single victory is important,” Ross said. “Within our changing room, there’s probably a bit of a different perspective on things than externally.

“We understand how hard this league is and how hard every game is.

“We don’t have any given right to win any fixture, and every point we’ve won this season we’ve by-and-large had to work incredibly hard for.

“Today was another example of that, but I thought there were a lot of things to be pleased about.

“How resilient the players were, how well they defended, and equally how good they were in periods with the ball, especially in the opening period and towards the end of the game.

“Naturally, as a manager, you would like to score a second and that would have made the latter part of the game more comfortable, but I thought in the main we defended well.”