Ian Evatt ‘had words’ with Blackpool players before second-half improvement

Ian Evatt revealed some home truths were delivered at half-time before Blackpool raised their game and beat local rivals Wigan 2-0 in League One.

Wigan defender Will Aimson came closest to scoring in an uneventful first half, only to head over against his former club.

After the break, it was a different story as Blackpool substitute Dale Taylor teed up his fellow ex-Wigan forward Ashley Fletcher in the 59th minute.

And five minutes later, the favour was returned as Taylor converted Fletcher’s assist from close range.

“I felt in the first half we were almost in training mode,” said Evatt, whose relegation-battling side have picked up seven points from their last three matches.

“We were going through our patterns and progressions, but it wasn’t intense enough.

“Away from home, I didn’t feel like we earned the right – we didn’t put the ball in to ask them questions to be able to play.

“We didn’t have the same energy or zest. It’s a challenging thing to deliver being a team that’s calm and composed in possession, to then being hyperaggressive and stealing the ball.

“We had words at half-time, and I told the players the truth and that was ‘we are loads better than that, we are away from home and we have to earn the right’.

“We altered the press and decided to sacrifice possession a little bit. We set traps – and we did that superbly well for the two goals.

“I’m delighted for Dale Taylor, he worked so hard to get back, to steal the ball and show the composure to find Ashley Fletcher was brilliant.

“The second goal was a moment of quality, a really good move, and scored at the right time.”

Wigan’s defeat saw their 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end.

Latics head coach Ryan Lowe said: “I’ve got mixed emotions, because I thought we were fantastic. But two moments of sloppiness have cost us.

“We give the ball away for the first goal, we don’t deal with it, and suddenly the ball’s in the back of the net, which is disappointing.

“For all the good we did with the ball, and all the good we did without the ball, we kept them at source…we’re so disappointed with the goals and the result obviously.

“At one point, I was pleased with what we were doing. I felt the goal was coming…23 or 24 shots, three big chances, and the xG (expected goals) says we should score three goals.

“The two lads who scored…they’re good players…and if you put good balls into good areas for good players, they will score nine times out of 10.

“We put the ball into good areas for our players and we didn’t manage to convert them. That’s the disappointing part.”