Steve Bruce hails ‘gritty’ performance from Blackpool after securing first win

Blackpool boss Steve Bruce was impressed by his side’s fortitude as they came from behind to beat in-form Huddersfield 3-2 at Bloomfield Road.

The hosts played much of the game with 10 men after two-goal Niall Ennis was dismissed in the 36th minute.

The Seasiders manager said: “It was great entertainment, wasn’t it? We needed something like that, to show a bit of character, after going 1-0 down so early.

“I thought, ‘here we go again’, but to be fair to the players, they’ve shown a bit of resilience, a bit of grit and a bit of determination, and I’m delighted for them that they’ve got something out of it.

“It’s been a difficult start, for whatever reason, so it’s always nice to get off the boil, and what a way to do it.

“I’m so pleased the fans have been able to see the team show a bit of something, and I think they’ll appreciate that. We’ve had a difficult couple of weeks.”

Bruce hailed the Blackpool support as “totally magnificent” – but has asked them to get behind under-fire goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who has got off to a rough start since joining on loan from Birmingham.

Bruce said: “They need to get behind the goalkeeper, that’s for sure. He’s our player for the year, he’s not played for a while, and he’ll get better, I’m sure. A bit of support and a pat on the back now and again always does the world of good.”

Town boss Lee Grant meanwhile wants his side to learn their lessons from suffering their first defeat of the season.

He said: “We probably allowed the opposition opportunities not so much through wonderful play, but through areas and mistakes.

“We gave Blackpool momentum in the game, so we’re all quite frustrated at that, me more than anyone I’m sure.

“There were just one or two decisions or individual moments that can turn the tide of a game and you saw that. We had the stadium and the atmosphere where we wanted it when we scored, then it changes very, very quickly.

“I think at 1-1 we didn’t find the time to breathe and understand what was needed. There was perhaps an impatience about wanting to be back in front and not necessarily understanding the dynamic of where we were.

“We probably made some decisions when we were between 1-0 up and 3-1 down that we will look at and I’m sure everyone will be really frustrated with it.

“You have to give credit to Blackpool, their work off the ball and their diligence to defend the box was top, but having said that, some of our decision-making in the final third and our lack of risk-taking in the final third.”