Ex-Blackpool figure gives verdict on the Seasiders’ tough start to the season – and the difference between them and Stockport County
The 53-year-old was on radio duty at Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon as Neil Critchley’s side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Stockport County – courtesy of second half goals from Louie Barry, Jayden Fevrier and Tanto Olaofe.
This followed a 2-1 loss away to Crawley Town on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 League One campaign, with both the Red Devils and the Hatters enjoying promotion from the fourth tier last season.
“Blackpool started well, in the first half I thought they were the better team – they put more crosses into the box, but they had two strikers in Joseph and Fletcher, and neither of them were getting on the end of them,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire after the match.
“(Kyle) Wootton was a real handful. He’s an old fashioned target man if you like – he brought people into play. His physicality was a little bit too much for Blackpool.
“It’s been a disappointing start to the season (for Blackpool). When the fixtures come out and you get Crawley away and Stockport at home – two teams that have been promoted, you think it’s alright, but both have had momentum.
“There’s been a lot of departures and a lot of new arrivals at Bloomfield, and in the latter part of the second half, they looked like a new team trying to work each other out.” Throughout the summer, the defender has been linked with a move away from the Fylde Coast.
Lincoln City were initially said to be looking at the former Nottingham Forest youngster, before it was reported Oxford United had seen two bids rejected.
Last week, Seasiders head coach Neil Critchley stated there had been no fresh approaches for Lawrence-Gabriel, who initially made the move to Bloomfield Road on loan in 2020, before making his stay permanent.
Discussing the wing-back’s absence against Stockport, the Blackpool boss explained: “He’s missed 50 percent of pre-season, his match minutes are the lowest out of everyone in the squad.
“He needs a period of time to train and improve his fitness, having just returned last week.Hopefully we can build up his minutes in the next few weeks and he can stake a claim.”
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