Blackpool midfielder has settled in quickly at Bloomfield Road

The Seasiders have won seven of the eight games the Australian midfielder has played in, the exception being last month’s League One defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

As for his ‘lucky omen’ status, Dougall said: “I can’t take credit. There are other players on the pitch but ever since I’ve come to the club the boys have gelled. I’ve done my part and so has everyone else.

“Sometimes it’s a different 11 from game to game, so it’s not just me – it’s the whole team and I’m just happy to be part of it.”

The relentless match schedule is certainly a challenge for Dougall, who arrived in mid-October without the benefit of a pre-season having been released by Barnsley in the summer.

The Brisbane-born midfielder added: “For the first couple of games I was a little bit off it in terms of match sharpness but the more I play it will benefit me.

“We’ve got momentum and confidence. We’re nearly a third of the way through and we’re not in the position we want to be in (12th) but we’re not far off it.

“When it’s Saturday-Tuesday games, you just have to find ways to win and we have, so if we keep picking up points it’s only a matter of time until we’re in those play-off spots. That’s what we’re aiming for.

“The gaffer has his philosophies and we all buy into that but the 11 on the pitch all have individual traits.”

Critchley hailed the work rate of Dougall and Grant Ward after Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Fleetwood, saying: “Him and Wardy put an unbelievable shift in. The amount of scraps and bits, first and second balls, interceptions…

“They’re really important because if they keep picking up those balls the momentum swings. Their effort and industry in the middle of the pitch gave us a platform.”

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