Ian Evatt praises ‘Blackpool brotherhood’ as Seasiders move to brink of safety

Blackpool manager Ian Evatt praised the togetherness in his squad as they took a huge step towards League One survival with a 1-0 win at Wycombe.

The Seasiders have spent most of the campaign languishing towards the foot of the table but Evatt’s side have hit form at a crucial time in the season.

And Luke Leahy’s second-half own goal was enough to move them six points clear of danger with just two games left.

Former Blackpool player Evatt said: “I’m speechless really for a change.

“Just togetherness. I spoke to (the players) yesterday and today about what the DNA of the club is, and why the teams I played in here were so successful.

“It’s about brotherhood, it’s about family, it’s about togetherness – not just in the changing rooms, it’s behind the scenes, it’s with the fanbase.

“In times of real difficulty this season, the biggest thing I could say about this football club and the proudest thing is everybody’s stuck together.

“That victory and the others we’ve had of late have all been based around that key word of togetherness.

“This is a family, we spend a lot of time together. There’s highs and lows, there’s disagreements.

“At the end of the day, we fight with each other, we fight for each other.

“We’ve seen a group of players today fight for each other and get a very important three points.”

After a closely contested first half, Blackpool struck two minutes into the second period when Leighton Clarkson’s corner was headed by Leahy into his own net.

The Seasiders had to survive the last 20 minutes with 10 men, as Hayden Coulson was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Junior Quitirna.

An important double save from Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the last 10 minutes earned Blackpool victory.

Wycombe boss Michael Duff was left to again rue his side’s display in the final third.

“Disappointed, frustrated,” the Chairboys boss said.

“Another game where every stat apart from the most important one we’ve won. Stats don’t win games.

“I think we should be winning the game in the first half. A lack of quality in the top third when we got out into really promising areas a lot.

“(We) couldn’t quite find that killer pass for the shot.

“Too many times this season we’ve played alright or much better than the opposition and lost.

“It’s frustrating, it’s happened far too many times and it’s the same again today.”