Grayson proud as Blackpool rise to derby occasion - 7M sport

Grayson proud as Blackpool rise to derby occasion



Posted Sunday, December 08, 2019 by PA

Grayson proud as Blackpool rise to derby occasion

Simon Grayson says confidence is flowing through Bloomfield Road after Blackpool moved up to fourth with a 3-1 derby victory against Fleetwood.

Liam Feeney grabbed his first Tangerines goal to open the scoring, before further strikes from Sullay Kaikai and Armand Gnanduillet settled it.

Blackpool are unbeaten in six Sky Bet League One matches and Grayson insists the only way is up ahead of a packed Christmas schedule.

“It was a very important victory for us, of course, and we deserved it,” he said.

“I asked the lads for a big performance before the game and I certainly got it. When you’re faced with the vim and vigour of a big local derby game you need every single one of your players to step up to the plate.

“I couldn’t question any of the players of being short on that score. It was two good teams pushing high at the top of the table having a real good battle.

“It was a good, solid performance, and one which we needed to put in if we were going to get anything from the game.

“It’s about keeping this momentum going now. We’re at the start of a tough run of fixtures, but if we keep playing like that we won’t go too far off course.

“This was a huge confidence-booster for everyone at the club.”

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton insists his side are better than Blackpool but admits they just did not turn up at Bloomfield Road.

Substitute Conor McAleny grabbed a late consolation and the defeat leaves them ninth and two points outside the play-offs.

He said: “It was a very disappointing afternoon for us, very much so.

“We’re all frustrated because the reality of it is we still feel that we’re a much better football team than Blackpool.

“That means nothing now, we lost this game fair and square, and we’ve got to be smarter in certain situations in the future.

“We’ve got to manage key moments of a game better. We do need the rub of the green too, though. Some of the refereeing decisions didn’t go for us.

“I can’t believe the decision before the second goal and there was a definite foul in the run-up to the third, but that’s football.

“You’ve got to adjust and make sure that your team is always fully on it and ready to go.

“Today we got no points because we didn’t turn up and we certainly didn’t deliver the best version of ourselves.

“The first goal changes any football match. Blackpool got that today, we didn’t, and at the end of the game we come away with nothing.”

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