Blackpool boss reflects on Rotherham United stalemate

Blackpool Gazette

Blackpool head coach Steve Bruce reflects on the midweek 0-0 draw with Rotherham United.   The results means the Seasiders' last seven home games have all ended level.

Transcript

00:00How hard is it, especially here, when you're sending out the same message week on week,

00:04do you want to put things right and let it fall flat when you get out there?

00:07Yeah, yeah. Well, that's a good analysis of it. There's a pattern to it, isn't there?

00:12It's as if, you know, there's times when we've fought back and got back into a game,

00:19there's times when we've been leading the game.

00:22And the longer it goes, the more mental the time becomes, and it becomes anxious.

00:27The players become anxious, the crowd becomes anxious, and that's pretty evident for everybody to see.

00:33Obviously, the anxiety is there to see. Have the players spoken to you about how they're feeling?

00:37No, look, the only way we can go over it is just by going back to the training ground

00:43and work and get ready for Saturday again.

00:47And hopefully, Saturday is the game that changes us around.

00:50You mentioned some great saves from Harry Tyre. Was that one of his more impressive nights?

00:54Well, he's made two in particular where it was a great strike from one of them, both outside the box.

00:59I didn't think they created much either. It was one of them games again.

01:05We found it very, very difficult to break it down.

01:08We huffed and puffed all night, but unfortunately, he was very frustrating for everybody.

01:12First half for Sammy Silvera, were you impressed with some of the glimpses we saw from him?

01:16First half in particular, I thought he was our biggest threat.

01:19With Sammy, he hasn't played a lot, you know, so we knew that.

01:22And the same goes for Niles, who made a big impact coming on the last week ago, ten days ago, whatever it was.

01:29Unfortunately, the longer the game went on, the more Sammy tired, which we knew he would.

01:35But in 80 minutes, he was doing good.

01:38Yeah, do you think we could see more and more of those snippets in the next few weeks from now?

01:42Yeah, we hope so. We've seen bits and pieces, haven't we?

01:44We've seen what a good footballer the kid is.

01:47He's had a big impact. He scored a goal, made a goal.

01:50And today, he had arguably our biggest chance in the first half.

01:53And a wonderful block by their guy stopped him from taking us to the lead.

01:59A selection headache for yourself at the moment is between Lee Evans and Sonny Curry midfield.

02:02Obviously, Sonny earned the place while Evans was out injured.

02:05What's the thinking behind the pairing you're going with at the moment?

02:09Well, I thought the two of them, Albi and Sonny, have been my best players over the last few weeks.

02:14So, they deserve to stay in the team as far as I'm concerned.

02:17That's the way I manage.

02:19And Sonny's played very, very well.

02:21I thought, even today, him and Albi were arguably better performers.

02:27Nice headache to have with Evans waiting to come back in?

02:29Well, we know what Evo is. Of course we do.

02:32So, it's food for thought of how can I get the three of them in the pitch.

02:38So, that's in my mind already before we play on Saturday.

02:42So, can't be a change of system for you, getting all three together?

02:45Maybe, maybe.

02:47You know, the only thing a manager can do is either change the system or change the personnel.

02:51So, we'll see what we can do.

02:54Could be absence of Tom Bloxham and maybe the limited options up front force you to do that as well?

02:58Well, I mean, the injury to Tom, you've got to be, because of the start he had and what he gives us, you know.

03:06But unfortunately, injuries are part of it.

03:09And we've picked up a couple and we'll have to deal with it.

03:13Finally, Josh Olimar dropped off the bench today.

03:15He twisted his ankle yesterday, which was a bit of a blow, because then again, another forward player.

03:21Unfortunately, just as he takes two steps forward, Josh, innocuous challenge yesterday,

03:27and he turned his ankle over, which was sore today and he couldn't take part.

03:31Is there a time frame for how long that will keep him out for?

03:33No, I don't think there'll be any time frame just yet.

03:36I don't think it's too serious though.

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