Neil Critchley hails Blackpool’s ‘belief and arrogance’ in win over Northampton
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley hailed a job well done by his side after their 1-0 victory at Northampton on Tuesday.
A cagey first half at Sixfields yielded little in the way of clear-cut chances but Blackpool took control after the break, with Matt Pennington making the crucial breakthrough.
The visitors then defended well and limited Northampton to very few opportunities as they moved to within one point of the play-off places.
“I thought we played well and we looked like a good team,” said Critchley. “We played with belief and a bit of arrogance.
“They changed their shape and they changed their team and paid us a bit of respect but we had good control of the game and we said at half-time to be patient and keep doing the right things.
“If we kept passing it, they’ll tire, and to score from a set-piece was really nice because that’s something we have worked on and it’s something we highlighted that we needed to improve.
“Their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save from Marvin Ekpiteta in the first half but we felt the ball crossed the line, so to score from another set-piece in the second half was pleasing.
“After we scored, without the ball, we looked really assured and it was a composed and controlled performance.
“We’ve only lost one in six and that’s now three consecutive clean sheets so we’re in good form and we feel we’re building momentum.
“Tonight’s gone, we have eight games to go this season and now we’re focused on Wigan on Saturday.”
Northampton boss Jon Brady was not too downhearted despite his side’s toothless performance.
He said: “In my opinion it shows how far we’ve come because we feel a little bit disappointed and the fans are a little bit disappointed and we’re playing against Blackpool.
“They were tipped for automatic promotion this season and they are a team going for the play-offs and they have some very good players, but possession-wise I felt we went toe-to-toe with them.
“We couldn’t find the solutions in attack because they dropped back into shape in the second half and they were very hard to break down. They are a very good side and have destroyed a lot of good teams recently.
“I thought there were spells where we played well but they score a goal from a set-piece, a scrappy goal, and that’s disappointing because we should defend that better and it’s the key moment in the game.”
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Reggae Boyz defender Di'Shon Bernard credits Steve McClaren's influence for his development
Di'Shon Bernard, the 23-year-old Reggae Boyz defender, has praised the impact of new Jamaica head coach Steve McClaren, stating that the changes under McClaren are benefiting his development both at the international and club levels. Bernard, currently representing Jamaica in World Cup qualifiers, highlighted how McClaren’s progressive playing style aligns well with what his club manager, Danny Rohl, is implementing at Sheffield Wednesday.
Bernard explained how, in the past, the playing styles between his national team and Sheffield Wednesday had been starkly different. However, with McClaren's arrival in July, the shift toward a more possession-based, progressive game plan has made his transition between club and country smoother.
“We're doing a lot of build-up where before it was more long ball, going off seconds,” Bernard told The Yorkshire Post. “Now we're building up from the back, having the keeper take more responsibility on the ball. That's good for me because doing it here [at Sheffield Wednesday], it's easier to take it into the national team.”
McClaren’s approach is proving to be a positive influence for Bernard, who feels that this new playing style better suits Jamaica’s talent and allows for more technical football. “I think it's better football for us with the national team, with the players we have. With our quality, we just needed that guidance to play that football,” he added.
The former Manchester United player also spoke highly of McClaren’s coaching acumen, having worked briefly with him at Old Trafford. McClaren’s experience and leadership have already made a significant impact on the Reggae Boyz, despite only being in charge for two matches so far—a 0-0 draw with Cuba and a 2-1 win over Honduras.
“I worked with Steve for a little bit at Manchester United before I left; he's a quality coach and the staff he brought with him too. The standard of training's gone up, everyone's working hard because when there's a new manager you want to be in that team but it's a squad thing,” Bernard said.
As Jamaica looks to continue their World Cup qualifying campaign, Bernard’s development under both McClaren and Rohl is helping him grow into a more complete player. The alignment between Jamaica’s evolving style of play and Sheffield Wednesday’s tactical setup is allowing Bernard to perform confidently on both fronts, which bodes well for both his club and international future.
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McClaren relishes Reggae Boyz win against Nicaragua but stresses job isn’t done yet
Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren expressed satisfaction with his team’s crucial 2-0 victory over Nicaragua in their Concacaf Nations League Group B top-of-the-table clash on Thursday night, but he was quick to emphasize that the job is far from finished.
With a pivotal match against Honduras looming at the National Stadium on Monday, McClaren knows his team still has work to do to secure their place at the top of the group and ensure a spot in the quarterfinals, as well as a spot in the next Concacaf Gold Cup.
A 32nd-minute own goal from Nicaragua’s Josué Quijano and Romario Williams’ 69th-minute strike—his fourth on the international stage—gifted the Boyz all three points as they consolidated their lead atop the standings on seven points. They are one point ahead of Honduras (six points), with Nicaragua (four points) still within touching distance of making the top two.