HAMILTON: I’M BACK IN GOAL POSITION
CJ puts injury nightmare behind him... and sets sights on Tangerine dream shot at play-offs
BY LINDSAY SUTTON
COMEBACK king CJ Hamilton has roared back from being injured and said: I feel like a new man.
The Blackpool winger was sidelined for virtually a year after two consecutive injuries, but he has now vowed to make up for lost time.
Hamilton opened the scoring for the Seasiders as they washed away Bristol City at rain-lashed Bloomfield Road, with his team-mates Gary Madine and Josh Bowler adding the other two goals for the Tangerines.
And that made it three home wins on the trot for Neil Critchley’s up-and-coming team.
Robins sub Nahki Wells pulled a goal back late on, but defeat left his side on nine away matches without a single victory.
Hamilton’s first goal in more than 12 months left him admitting: “It’s a massive relief for me. It’s a weight off my shoulders.
“To be sidelined for so long was quite an ordeal, especially since I had never been injured before.
“I got through it because of good family members, good team-mates and a good boss, but it took a lot of patience.
“I’ve missed almost five months of this campaign through injury, but my confidence is growing and hopefully I can build on this first goal.”
Blackpool boss Critchley backed Hamilton to get better still, adding: “I’ve got full confidence in him. When he’s in form, he’s a really tough player to handle. He’s got two assists and now a goal in the last three games, and that’s CJ. He makes an impact at the top end of the pitch.”
Hamilton hopes Blackpool can make a push for the play-offs in their first season back in the second tier. He said: “We’re definitely looking upwards.
“Blackpool may be a lower budget side compared to the big teams up there, but we know how good we are, and that we’re good enough to do it. The playoffs are always a possibility, and we will see where we can get to.”
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson pointed to his side’s “lack of tenacity in defence,” which he said “compounds our difficulties”.
City’s 900 travelling supporters had another early display of the talents of their 20-year-old midfielder Han-Noah Messengo, but even he faded. Another bright prospect, 18-year-old Alex Scott, tried to spark momentum, and striker Antoine Semenyo tested keeper Dan Grimshaw with a cracking effort.
But unless things change, the Robins seem destined to stay lower mid-table – too good to go down, but not good enough to make a big impact.