Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips disappointed with late Luton leveller

Posted Sunday, April 07, 2019 by PA

Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips felt his side should have prevented leaders Luton setting a new club record of 28 league games unbeaten after their 2-2 League One draw at Kenilworth Road.

With four minutes to go, the visitors were leading 2-1 against their 10-man hosts until substitute Jason Cumming popped up to equalise.

McPhillips said: “We’ve come here and given top of the league a scare and probably should have won it.

“You can’t play open, expansive coming here as you’ll get spanked, like lots of teams have.

“We had a bit of a plan, as this is the best team in the league by a distance and you’d have to say it was working.

“I’m certain we should have had a penalty, then we had another chance when we went through and should have been more clinical.

“If Armand (Gnanduillet) puts that one away, we go on and win the game.

“But they’re the best team in the league and – while it was still one goal in it – they were knocking on the door and throwing the kitchen sink at you.

“In the end, (it’s) a little scabby one that’s gone through the legs of someone and it’s a real disappointing dressing room. To come to Luton and get a 2-2 (draw), we’re gutted.”

Luton led on six minutes when Kazenga LuaLua’s low cross was swept home by James Collins.

Blackpool levelled on the half-hour when Crystal Palace loanee Nya Kirby volleyed home his first senior goal from 20 yards.

The hosts were down to 10 men on the hour mark when Collins was sent off after picking up two yellows in two minutes, the second a lunging challenge on Matty Virtue.

Blackpool took immediate advantage, Virtue hammering home from a corner just 60 seconds later, but Cummings rescued a point late on.

Town boss Mick Harford was left annoyed his side did not capitalise on an opening 25 minutes that saw them completely dominate the Tangerines.

He said: “They set themselves out to defend, they defended deep. You’ve got to give them a little bit of credit in all fairness, the shape of their defensive unit was good.

“They got blocks in, the keeper made, not too many saves, but he looked adequate with the balls we put in the box.

“In the first 20-25 minutes, the game should have been out of sight though, with the positions we got ourselves in, and the opportunities we had.

“We had numerous opportunities, shots were getting blocked, here, there and everywhere.

“It was frustrating, and I’m sure if we had got the second goal, it would have been more and we would have carved them open even more, but fair play to them.”