McPhillips praises Blackpool players after battling victorty

Posted Sunday, September 09, 2018 by PA

Temporary boss Terry McPhillips hailed his side’s fighting spirit as Blackpool scored three times in the final six minutes to come from two goals down to bat Bradford 3-2.

Eoin Doyle and Jack Payne gave Bradford a two-goal lead, but Jay Spearing scored twice, and Curtis Tilt pounced on Richard O’Donnell’s error to snatch a late winner.

And McPhillips, who announced he would like to stay at Blackpool on a permanent basis, described his side’s performance as brilliant as they battled past Bradford.

“I thought we were brilliant from start to finish to be fair,” said McPhillips.

“We didn’t manage to put the ball in the net before they scored, and then we paid for our mistakes, but the response was there for everyone to see.

“[It was] a never-say-die attitude and not just that but some quality too – I’m absolutely delighted that the lads took it to another level. Even at 2-0, nobody’s head went down. In the end we wore Bradford down.

“We have given everyone we have played against a game. We haven’t done enough, and it made this game vital, and at 2-0 we’re scratching our heads wondering what we have to do to win a game. And there we go – the lads went to another level, physically, mentally and tactically.

“Working with these lads every day, why wouldn’t I want to be the manager? It is exciting times.”

The game burst into life after 59 minutes when Tilt tripped Kelvin Mellor in the area and Doyle coolly sent Mark Howard the wrong way from the spot.

Payne then doubled the lead five minutes later, finishing low into the corner through a defender’s legs.

Spearing pulled one back from the spot with six minutes remaining, firing into the bottom corner after O’Donnell fouled Armand Gnanduillet.

Three minutes later, Ryan McGowan tripped Tilt in the area and, though O’Donnell saved Spearing’s initial penalty, the Blackpool captain converted the rebound.

And Tilt then won the game in the 90th minute when O’Donnell spilled a routine cross, pouncing on the loose ball and stabbing in.

Braford manager David Hopkin said: “I asked for a performance from the players and to give me everything.

“They did, and it’s been three mistakes that cost us in the end. I thought we were magnificent, there was just a wee bit of fatigue with a lot of young players playing.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with the result, but the performance gives me encouragement going forward.

“Even at 2-2 we would have been disappointed, but to concede that third goal deflated everyone. But we’ll bounce back – I’ve seen a lot of positives. We’ve not really been carved open, it’s come from three mistakes of our own doing.

“We have to go with younger players [because of the number of injuries]. We must make sure they are fit, and they are ready. The younger players need to step up to the mark. They will come in, they will learn from this result.”