Blackpool manager Steve Bruce insists his side have to ignore the ‘nonsense’ and stick together to recover from their poor start to the season.
The Tangerines have won just once in all competitions this season, with a 3-2 victory over Huddersfield Town last month their only success. They followed that with successive defeats against Mansfield Town and Plymouth Argyle but bounced back slightly to record a 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers.
With last weekend’s clash with Luton Town last weekend postponed due to international call-ups, Bruce was hoping to take the positive display against the Trotters to Sixfields for the trip to Northampton Town. However, a late goal from Cameron McGeehan condemned them to a fifth defeat from seven league outings.
Bruce Remains Defiant
Following the game, Bruce admitted he was pleased with the performance and was perplexed as to how his side didn’t pick up at least a point. There are now growing murmurs that the former Birmingham City boss could be set for the chop, but the veteran manager insists he and his team have to drown out that noise:
“We have to believe in what we’re doing and stick together.
“We know the nonsense will surround us, but that’s football, and when you haven’t won with the expectation we’ve got and the players we’ve got, then we have to accept what’s coming, stay together as a group and win next week.
“Since I’ve been here, we were very good at going forward last year, and that’s why three of them have ended up in the Championship. Going forward has never been a problem, but the goals against are our biggest Achilles heel, and something we have to look to get right.”
Continuing, Bruce reiterated that he is starting to see pleasing performances for his team and it is only a matter of time before they put together a string of good results:
“I believe in what we’re doing, and I saw the resemblance of what we’re looking for. We looked a threat every time we went forward, which hasn’t been the case for the last few weeks.
“We’ve got a squad of players together that for one reason or another were assembled late. I’m not trying to make excuses, but I can see the resemblance of a decent team.
“We need to get up and running. We are capable of putting something together, a win will breed a bit of confidence.”
Writer’s View
There’s little doubt that Steve Bruce is under pressure now and it’s hard to see him lasting the month if he doesn’t start to pick up results quickly. He may get somewhat of a free pass against Barrow in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night but supporters will be less forgiving if they fail to beat Barnsley next weekend. The next seven days look to be pivotal for Blackpool’s season.
