The Latics turned in a far from convincing performance in the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final at Boundary Park. Andy Liddell (pictured) pulled the game back to 1-1 with a penalty after Shaun Barker had headed the visitors in front. A defensive lapse minutes from the end allowed the Seasiders to take the advantage as Wes Hoolahan slid in with the match winner. It was disappointing for the home fans as they had expected more from their heros but it's still only half-time. To put the game into perspective, the Latics need a goal and it's all square. With the Latics away form this season, it's not an impossibility for them to go to Bloomfield Road and win their way through to Wembley.
John Sheridan was dismayed with the performance, particluarly the second half and he said, "I was very pleased with the first half and I thought we looked the better team, but the second 45 minutes was very disappointing. I told the lads at half-time I thought we looked like a good side, and I expected them to up their game by ten to fifteen percent going down the slope in the second half. Then we just got very sloppy. I can't work out why and I would love to know. At the end of the day they upped the tempo after the break and we couldn't live with them."
"Given the chances they had, a point would have been a fortunate result, the game could have been over. We'd got ourselves back into the game with Liddell's penalty and I would have taken a point as that keeps you well in the tie going into the second leg. Then the second goal. I want to see it again on video, but I think it's a bit of a joke again. We just got sloppy. There were two many gaps in the defence and the defenders were too far apart. That's when you need leaders on the pitch, people who are going to give out one or two rollickings and get people in position. We just weren't at the races second half."
"I want players to get people organised. Good players always talk and they're good because they've got other people doing jobs for them. Sometimes our reactions and awareness of things are a little too slow for my liking. One or two just switched off, and you can't afford to do that against a side like Blackpool. We know their strengths going forward, they've got an excellent player in Hoolahan, and if we want to go anywhere as a team we need to concentrate on our game all the time. Sometimes you get punished for not doing that and we should have been punished more today. Luckily Alan Blayney kept us in the game."
Blackpool boss Simon Grayson was happy to see his team increase their unbeaten run to eight games but was sure that there is still plenty of work to do after the win. Grayson said, "It's a good result but it could have been a lot better. I was disappointed with the way we played the first half, I thought we got caught up in the atmosphere and never played the football we're capable of playing. But in the second half we showed what we're about. We got the ball down, passed and created numerous chances and on another day the tie could have been all over."
"But I'm quite happy to go in with a 2-1 lead. There's still a lot of work to be done, but full credit to the players, they withstood pressure at times and then played the way we know we can in the second half. From where I was I couldn't really see it (the penalty), but Tommy Wright, their assistant, thought it was a bit harsh. I've not seen it on the replay so I don't know, but these decisions are given. It was a bit difficult for the referee, but he made a rod for his own back when after a couple of early challenges he booked three players."
"You've got to allow for the surface, the occasion, a local derby and I think both sides were a bit disappointed he made rash decisions, but the referees do the best job they can. We've got a good inner belief among the squad that we can win every game we play and that's what we tried to do today. But although it's an old cliche it's half-time, we know there's still a lot at stake and a lot to be done yet. And they'll be coming at us. It's still geared up to be a fantastic cup tie and we have to be on our mettle and make sure we prepare right, so that by five o'clock next Saturday we're at Wembley, but we know it's not going to be easy."