Ian Evatt hails Blackpool’s ‘unbelievable courage’ in win over Port Vale

Manager Ian Evatt lauded Blackpool’s “courage” after they twice came from behind to beat Port Vale 3-2 at Bloomfield Road to boost their League One survival hopes.

The visitors went ahead through Dajaune Brown and Rhys Walters, with Niall Ennis and Ashley Fletcher being on hand to pull the home side level.

James Husband then climbed off the bench to fire the Seasiders in front nine minutes from time, his volley being deflected into the net, and they held on to claim a vital three points.

Evatt said: “We made it incredibly difficult for ourselves.

“I’ve been talking all along about how we’ve managed to lose games before we’ve been able to win them, and conceding after 30 seconds is again unacceptable, but they showed unbelievable courage to go behind twice and keep believing.

“They kept pushing and striving. The frustrating part for me is, I know it’s been in them, and I’ve been trying everything to get it out of them.

“It’s not natural for some of them, but it is there. I work with them every day, and I believe in them.

“They managed to get what I thought we deserved in the second half. I thought we were really brilliant.

“They scored with their first attack, but it didn’t rock us, it made us more determined. It’s difficult to take because it’s from nothing, it’s so frustrating, but we’ve shown courage – the fans helped us to do that.

“We have a responsibility to have more nights like that, because I love football when it’s like that.”

Boss Jon Brady was left frustrated by Vale being unable to hold onto the lead on two occasions.

He said: “It’s really hard to take. We take the lead twice, and we’re in control of the game when we got back in it.

“We were sloppy when we came out for the second half – really sloppy to concede straightaway, just not marking tight enough in the box or switching on quick enough from throw-ins.

“It’s just fundamental basics I’m really annoyed about. We get back into the game to make it 2-1, but then concede again in a similar scenario. We’re too loose in the box, and not good enough.

“We go to win the game, and at the back post the lad gets the shot and it deflects in. Then, we’re trying to go for it, it’s a frustrating day.

“It’s just individual errors that have cost us. We have to defend better. There’s two moments of defending which are just nowhere near good enough.

“The backline is a bit makeshift, but we’ve been much better. You can’t come away from home and score two but concede three.”