Blackpool boss Steve Bruce hailed his players after they gave their play-off hopes a major boost with a convincing 3-0 win over Reading in Sky Bet League One.
In-form Sonny Carey took his recent scoring streak to six goals in as many games with a brace, either side of Olly Casey’s effort, at Bloomfield Road.
Bruce’s Seasiders are three points off the coveted top six and are building a head of steam at just the right time after three straight wins.
And Bruce, who has earned promotions with Birmingham and Hull, said: “It gives us a chance, doesn’t it?
“I believe in our history and this club has a history of coming from afar when it matters and we’ve made up big ground in the last four or five weeks and have given ourselves a chance with six games to go. It’s all to play for.
“We’ll go to Rotherham. They had a good result as well. It’s never easy going there. We’ll go there and see what we can do.
“Fair play to the players. I contemplated freshening it up after the intensity of the derby on Saturday.
“The energy, the commitment and desire to get the result…I’m absolutely delighted for them.
“Second half we could have scored five or six. I’m absolutely delighted with what we’ve done in the past week.
“Since Christmas we’ve looked a threat at the top end of the pitch. You wouldn’t like to play us.
“We’ve got pace in wide areas. We’re a physical threat. I’m really pleased.
“Considering Sonny’s missed two or three months of the season it’s a great effort to get to double figures.
“He’s playing amazing at the minute. I’m delighted with him and he’s getting his rewards.”
Reading saw their play-off hopes dented and are sat a point behind Bolton Wanderers after being turned over by the Seasiders.
After seeing his side’s 11-game unbeaten run ended with a whimper, Noel Hunt said: “It was three minutes of madness and a couple of mistakes.
“At this level if you dwell on the ball you get punished.
“It is a learning curve for us. We came off a great run, 11 games unbeaten, and now we have to bounce back and show our character.
“We lost a bit of structure for a minute or two, they take a quick free-kick and you’re chasing the game then.
“I thought we controlled the first half. But when you concede two goals like we did you’re always chasing.
“They have Lee Evans, who won the league with me at Wigan and he’s won the league since that twice.
“They have boys in there with great experience and knowhow. Their front two are dangerous and a handful and showed that tonight.”
Ange Postecoglou insisted his controversial cupped ear celebration to Tottenham fans in a 1-0 loss at Chelsea had been misinterpreted on another bad night for the Australian.Spurs slipped to a 16th defeat in the Premier League this season thanks to a 50th-minute header by Enzo Fernandez, but it only told half the story of a typically frenzied London derby.VAR was required to rule out a fine strike...

Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...

David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...

Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...

David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...

Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...

Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...

Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...

Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...



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