Blackpool manager Ian Evatt believes his side would have beaten Lincoln City had they kept 11 players on the field during last night’s Carabao Cup tie.
The Imps progressed to the third round with a 4-1 victory at Bloomfield Road, scoring three times after home defender Zac Ashworth was dismissed early in the second half. Evatt felt the final scoreline did not reflect Blackpool’s performance during the opening 50 minutes, when they created several opportunities and enjoyed the better of the game.
“Well, for 50-odd minutes, I thought we were the better team,” he said.
“I thought we had control of the game. We looked the most likely to win it and I believe with 11, we do win it.”
City took the lead after 36 minutes through Tanto Olaofe, who was given his first start following his summer loan move from Charlton Athletic. The forward provided the finish after good work from Mason Melia, another of the new arrivals handed an opportunity by Tom Shaw.
Blackpool responded before the interval, with Leighton Clarkson beating Joe Gauci from a free kick to send the sides into the break level. It was a setback for an unfamiliar Lincoln team, but Evatt acknowledged that his players knew what to expect from the visitors.
“You know what you come up against with Lincoln all the time. I thought we competed really well, created chances first half, played some really good football and then we just lost the moments tonight.”
The decisive moment arrived in the 52nd minute when Ashworth, who had already been booked, received a second yellow card. Evatt was frustrated by the defender’s decision to make the challenge, describing it as an avoidable mistake which left Blackpool facing the remainder of the contest with 10 players.
“We can’t make a challenge like that on a yellow card. That’s just a bit naive.”
City punished the hosts almost immediately. Tom Bayliss restored the lead from the resulting set piece before Rob Street added another two minutes later, turning a finely balanced cup tie into a commanding Lincoln advantage.
Callum Elder completed the scoring in the 77th minute, converting from another dead-ball situation to seal a convincing win. The result sent Shaw’s much-changed side into the third round and provided a welcome response to the weekend’s Championship defeat against Portsmouth.
Despite his insistence that Blackpool had been the stronger side before the dismissal, Evatt accepted that all four Lincoln goals could have been prevented. His post-match assessment focused particularly on the way the Seasiders defended the set pieces, which changed the course of the evening.
“Then the goals they scored were avoidable. Two set plays and a cross that we didn’t deal with.”
For Lincoln, it was an impressive display from a side featuring several summer signings and players who had been waiting for an opportunity. We took full advantage of Blackpool’s disciplinary lapse, scoring three times in 25 second-half minutes to secure a place in the League Cup third round.
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