Bowyer pride at Tangerine turnaround

WHEN Gary Bowyer took over at Blackpool at the start of last season, the Seasiders had just been relegated to League Two.

Almost at the end of his second season in charge, the club are battling for a top-half finish in League One.

Nathan Delfouneso’s equaliser against Shrewsbury, cancelling out Sam Jones’ opener, keeps Blackpool in the hunt to finish in the top half with one game remaining, while the Shrews – with one win in five – are limping into the play-offs.

It’s been a huge success story for Bowyer, against a backdrop of off-field issues which has seen court cases, the club being put up for sale and an almost-total boycott of Bloomfield Road by the home supporters.

So it’s no surprise the manager is feeling satisfied.

Bowyer said: “There’s a huge sense of pride for what we’ve done over the two years.

“Huge credit to the players, to my staff for the amount of effort we’ve put in and the commitment and we have to build on that now for next season.

“We’d have taken this at the start of the season 100 per cent, the aim at the start of the season was to consolidate and try and build.

“The players deserved the acclaim as well the way we have gone about it this season, the football we wanted to play and how we played it. It was a good send off.”

Shrewsbury already know they have secured third place and they were ahead on 20 minutes when Jones’ 20-yard strike beat Christoffer Mafoumbi, who got a hand to the ball but failed to keep it out.

Blackpool, who were looking to win five league games in a row for the first time since 2007, threatened to level on 34 minutes, but Craig MacGillivray denied Colin Daniel. But on 56 minutes, Blackpool were level as Delfouneso nodded in from close range. The linesman initially ruled it out for offside, but the goal was given after consultation with the referee.

“At times it really felt like an end of season affair to be honest,” Shrewsbury assistant manager Chris Doig said.

“I thought Blackpool played well – they are a decent team and they have decent players.

“All in all it’s a good point away from home.

“It’s performances we are looking at now in our position heading into the play-offs.

“I think there were a few aspects we will look to improve in the next game and beyond.

“It’s now trying to maximise this time to get the players in the right condition for when the play-offs do start.”