Simon Grayson pleased with Blackpool’s second-half response against Portsmouth

Posted Sunday, September 01, 2019 by PA

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson was pleased with his side’s second-half response as they maintained their unbeaten League One start with a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.

Marcus Harness’ first-half goal handed Pompey the advantage but Armand Gnanduillet’s header ensured the spoils were shared at Bloomfield Road.

“We got off to a real strong start,” said Grayson.

“We limited them to few opportunities. We got on the front foot but from then on in that 30-minute period, we were a bit sloppy. We were too complacent possibly, we were too slow in possession, too slow in stopping the opposition.

“We needed to increase the tempo and get on the front foot, because if you get on the front foot here at Bloomfield Road, then the crowd are soon going to get with you and stay with you and the crowd again were fantastic.

“We looked a dominant team in that second half.

“There was probably one or two players that probably made more mistakes in that first half than they’ve probably done for large parts of the season so far, so I accept that as long as they’re trying to do the right things and trying to rectify things, then I haven’t got any complaints with that.

“But again we’ve showed some good character coming from behind to get something out of the game.”

The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when John Marquis was tackled in the area and Harness curled the follow-up past Jak Alnwick.

After the break, Christian Burgess’ vital block denied Gnanduillet after a flowing move involving Sullay Kaikai and Ollie Turton.

But Gnanduillet made no mistake with a towering header from Liam Feeney’s cross before the hour to draw the Seasiders level with his fifth of the season.

Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett said: “It’s a difficult place to come and they have a lot of buoyancy here – you can tell from the atmosphere. Our fans were great travelling up here and backing us all the way, which I really do appreciate as well.

“I thought in the first half we deserved our lead and played very well and were the better side.

“They came back really strongly, though, at the start of the second half. I thought we looked leggy.

“I didn’t think that it was a period where we were going to get through it, but we did and probably then in the last 20 minutes had some breaks there and good situations and goalscoring opportunities.

“Probably the two subs just helped us physically I felt against a very powerful team.

“Gnanduillet has got a good header and had other chances and we have to realise at some stage that comes and you have to be able to be strong enough to sustain it and come through it.”