Gary Bowyer heaps praise on match-winner Armand Gnanduillet

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer was delighted to see Armand Gnanduillet put the disappointment of being left on the bench behind him and score a dramatic late winner against Fleetwood.

Gnanduillet’s header completed a remarkable late turnaround by the Seasiders, as they came from behind in the closing stages at Bloomfield Road to win 2-1 and secure a third home win of the week.

Bowyer said: “I am absolutely delighted for Armand Gnanduillet. It wasn’t easy to leave him out after how he played on Tuesday. What a way to win a game.

“We focus on making sure the players give their best every day and when game day comes to do that again.

“That’s exactly what they’ve done today, second half especially. I told the subs to make an impact and we couldn’t ask for a bigger impact than that.

“I’m delighted that we’ve put three home wins together this week. Mathematically we aren’t safe and I want to win as many of these games that we’ve got left as possible.

“The boys can have tomorrow off but we have to keep on now and go again at Gillingham. We have nine points to play for. No matter what you play, you try and win it.

“I’m delighted that we were able to send our fans home happy.”

Fleetwood went ahead after 75 minutes through Wes Burns’ deflected effort after Jordy Hiwula’s initial shot had come back off a post.

It took Blackpool until the 88th minute to find an equaliser when the ball dropped for Viv Solomon-Otabor, who lashed a terrific volley into the top corner.

And the hosts snatched all three points against their Fylde Coast rivals in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Gnanduillet powered in a header from Dolly Menga’s cross.

Fleetwood manager John Sheridan said: “It’s difficult to speak when the game goes like that. It was a scrappy game on a scrappy pitch.

“I was comfortable with the way we played, I just felt we needed to be more of a goal threat.

“We were a lot, lot better second half. We had a brilliant move after we went one-nil up where Wes Burns should score again. It’s a massive chance for us.

“Then the last few minutes it’s just that bit of game management. I felt we dealt with what they were throwing at us.

“For their first goal, we had the ball near their corner flag and they end up breaking on us. We should deal with it, there’s only two minutes to go.

“So it’s difficult to take. I thought when we got the goal there was only one winner. Five minutes from time, the way the game ends is just a massive downer for us.”