Terry McPhillips hails Michael Nottingham after first senior goal

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Interim manager Terry McPhillips hailed the impact of Michael Nottingham as the defender scored his first Blackpool goal in his side’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Barnsley.

The Tykes had taken the lead through George Moncur but defender Nottingham levelled on 50 minutes before a fantastic strike from Harry Pritchard put the Seasiders ahead.

French striker Armand Gnanduillet sealed Blackpool’s progress with a third and McPhillips was full of praise for his side’s performance.

“Notts (Michael Nottingham) finished it with a really good strike. I’m delighted for Michael, it’s his first goal in senior football, obviously,” he said.

“He is a goalscorer. Last year, he didn’t score as many as the year before for Salford with 11 goals but he had plenty of assists. He’s a weapon in there and that worked for us tonight.

“I thought we were outstanding. First half I thought we were alright. We got done by a wonder goal – a hell of a goal by the lad (George Moncur).

“First half, our starting positions weren’t great but second half we were superb. The way the lads went about it. It was different class.

“They’re a great bunch of lads and stuck together, the defending was superb and the two non-league lads got their first goals and second half we were awesome.”

Moncur’s stunning volley opened the scoring for Barnsley against the run of play after 19 minutes with Nottingham poking home from close range to level.

Pritchard’s fine curling effort with the outside of his boot put the Seasiders ahead on 56 minutes before Gnanduillet sealed Blackpool’s place in the second round.

But Barnsley assistant manager Andreas Winkler felt the result could have been very different if Victor Adeboyejo had converted his chance with the game at 1-1.

“We had a big chance with Victor (Adeboyejo) so then it’s 2-1 for us and I’m not that sure they would come back again. I’m sorry for the players that we didn’t win,” he said.

“As the gaffer Daniel Stendel said in the dressing room, this is football. It is early in the season and we can’t play every match like we did on Saturday.

“It’s our first Tuesday match so we are disappointed, but we can be better. We have a young squad here that want to win all the time.

“Everybody that comes in as a substitute performs well so I am happy with that.

“In certain situations, we could see the strength of Blackpool. We tried to get more ball possession in the second half but in the end, they deserved to win.

“George Moncur is a big player for us. We know his ability on the field and from the bench. We know of his quality.”