'We were never under any danger or trouble' - this is how highly Blackpool boss rates stopping Portsmouth

The Blackpool manager believes the 1-0 win at Bloomfield Road represented the Tangerines’ high watermark this term in levels of performance.

It proved a dreadful night for Kenny Jackett’s men as they fell to their first league defeat on the road.

Most observers viewed the first 45 minutes as dreadful from both teams before the home side assumed the ascendancy.

Critchley felt his team were on point from start to finish, though, with the manner in which Blackpool restricted Pompey to virtually nothing in terms of chances his source of satisfaction.

And, as they made it a run of sevens wins from eight, the result was new high for Pool this term.

He said: ‘I thought we were outstanding and deservedly won the game.

‘Every single player on the pitch made a huge contribution for us in and out of possession and we knew we had to be at our best and we were.

‘I didn’t think at any stage of the game we were under any danger or trouble.

‘From the first minute until the last that is as well as we’ve played.’

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute, as Keshi Anderson tucked away a smart finish from a counter-attack powered by CJ Hamilton down the right flank.

The goal was reminiscent of the way Pompey have turned defence into attack so fluently when countering at their best this term.

And it proved to be the deciding factor on a night when Kenny Jackett’s side came up well short.

Critchley added: ‘In the first-half we had a lot of opportunities around the box and we had to give credit for them for the way they defended.

‘We knew we had to work hard to score our goal and it was a fantastic break.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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