Blackpool coach Richie Kyle impressed as his side progress in JPT
ByPA Sport Report
Published 06/10/2015 at 22:12 GMT
Blackpool coach Richie Kyle insisted he and manager Neil McDonald had every confidence in the players after making eight changes to the team which beat Swindon on Saturday.
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And the Seasiders' largely second string lived up to their expectations with a lively and impressive performance which secured a deserved 2-1 victory at Vale Park.
Kyle said Blackpool had not disrespected the competition in any way and had made the changes "out of necessity".
They won the game thanks to goals from Jarrett Rivers and Clark Robertson either side of Anthony Grant's leveller.
He said: "We've only got a thin squad and we had injured plus a few other bumps and bruises. There were also players who needed game-time and thankfully everything worked out well.
"Winning becomes a habit and it's great to win our last three games. It's a pity we don't play on Saturday because Bradford have had players called up for international duty, but on the other hand it gives us time to get players fit.
"The manager and myself are delighted with this performance and have congratulated the players in the dressing room. The lads were very good individually and more importantly as a team.
"We gelled straight away which was really pleasing. We played on the front foot for most of the game and remained positive after Vale equalised.
"Mental strength is a big part of football and the way we responded after conceding was great to see. We soon scored again and then saw the game out without too many problems."
Vale boss Rob Page, who made only two changes from the team which beat Sheffield United on Saturday, admitted his team's performances had been "polar opposites".
He said: "The players deserved 10 out of 10 for how they played on Saturday, but only five or six for tonight. I keep asking them all for a level of consistency so it's very frustrating.
"I don't know if their mentality was wrong because Blackpool made eight changes. Perhaps my players thought it would be a walk in the park, but we all know football doesn't work like that.
"Blackpool deserved to win because we were very negative, particularly in the first-half. Our midfield players and wide men didn't impose themselves in a positive sense at all.
"We've then defended poorly because their number seven (Rivers) could have had a cup of tea before he put the ball in the net.
"Their winner came from a set-piece which is disappointing again. It's all about staying touch-tight to the man you are marking and making sure he doesn't score, but we are having problems with that.
"The players know I'm not happy and I'll certainly be expecting a reaction from them at Southend on Saturday."
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