Fleetwood Town left Bloomfield Road frustrated once again as a late goal from Nathan Delfouneso secured the points for Blackpool on Easter Monday.
Jay Spearing gave the home side the lead midway through the first half after Nya Kirby went down in the box. Ched Evans equalised for Town moments later after a lovely header at the far post.
Town went down to ten men after Nathan Sheron was shown a straight red, but the late drama didn’t stop there as Delfouneso scored late in injury time to give them all three points.
Here is what head coach Joey Barton had to say…
On the game and the performance…
“We are disappointed due to the manner of the defeat. We’ve scored our fair share of late goals but in the jubilation in a derby, you can’t make those types of mistakes.
“We gave a stupid penalty away after a dangling foot – but I do think the lad has dived if I am being honest – and he has thrown himself to the ground. The referee then has to make an decision and he finds that in Blackpool’s favour.
“With the red card, I will have to look at that back as from my point of view it looked a fair challenge. These days you can’t make those type of tackles, these days are gone. Before that we were the better side, we were trying to play football.
“The disappointment is that we haven’t taken anything from the game.”
On his sides attacking threat…
“It kills us as a coaching staff as we are left frustrated but the lads have put absolutely everything into that and rode the adversity that was in the game and get back into the match with the header.
“There’s no doubt who the better side was, we’ve tried to play football but we’ve been beat and now they sit above us in the table. We have to accept that for what it is.
“There are fine margins in this league and now Terry [McPhillips] and his side go home with the bragging rights until we met against next season.”
On James Hill’s first EFL start for the club…
“I thought James was excellent, especially against Gnanduillet who is a physical striker in this league. He dealt with him superbly and he also dealt with the occasion superbly, and with his long throw he has got, he gives us that attacking threat.
“His throw is something he has and something we will definitely be utilising because in the final third, his throw-ins are like a corner they are that long and we would be naïve not to use that. He has shown he can cope on these occasions and it’s now important we give him the best opportunity to develop at Fleetwood Town.”