Blackpool overcame Exeter City with a 1-0 victory at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool boss Ian Evatt has mapped out exactly what he wants from Bloomfield Road during his tenure as manager.
The club legend returned to the Fylde Coast as head coach back in October, after previously spending time in Tangerine as a player between 2006 and 2013.
Things have been up and down throughout his time in charge so far, but 10 points from the Seasiders’ last four games have eased relegation concerns heading into the final five games of the campaign.
A big part of that has been down to the atmosphere at Bloomfield Road, with fans getting behind their side to get some vital points on the board.
Evatt hopes his side can build on that atmosphere more and more moving forward, and shared a moment of celebration with the supporters at full time of Good Friday’s 1-0 victory over Exeter City - which came courtesy of a Tom Bloxham goal.
“I said to them at the end when I pointed to the North Stand - ‘That was for you,’” he said.
“Too often we’ve let them down this season from start to finish, but when it’s like that, it’s a very special club. I love this club dearly and I love those guys.
“When they’re the 12th man like they were today, it helps us. I’m grateful, thank you.
“This is a pressing stadium for me, where you want high octane football. It’s quite similar to Anfield in that respect, where the crowd is on top of you and it feels intense. We have to make it like that for the opposition.
“Moving forwards while I’m here that’s what I want to create, I want this place to be an absolute cauldron where it’s just too hot for away teams. We’ll get there, but it’ll take time.”
‘On it all week’
Tom Bloxhamplaceholder image
Tom Bloxham | Gareth Evans / Blackpool FC
Blackpool could’ve been 3-0 up inside 10 minutes against the Grecians, with several chances going begging after a fast start.
Evatt admits he was confident that his side would set the tempo early on after their late winner against Burton Albion the weekend before.
“Mr Hindsight is the most famous man that everyone speaks about - I’d never say it before the game, but I had a feeling we’d be like that,” he added.
“They’ve been on it all week in training. We try to be on it all of the time, but sometimes you get a feeling, and I had a really good gut feeling that the players were ready for this.
“We came out of the traps flying, and executed the game plan really well; the only critique is we’ve got to put the game to bed and make everyone’s lives a bit easier.”
‘Locked in’
The Seasiders’ focus quickly switches to their next test away to Stevenage, with little time for rest.
“The next couple of days we are locked in Squires Gate again getting ready for Monday,” he stated.
“That’s the life of a football player, there’s no eating Easter eggs; we’ll be training.”
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