Blackpool growing by the game, claims Kyle

The Seasiders held their play-off chasing visitors on a night they could easily have come away with three points.

But assistant manager Kyle felt the display represents much more than just a point to move Pool up a place to 18th in League One.

Neil McDonald’s number two said: “I think it shows how much the team is growing.

“We are improving with every game. We have a lot of young players but they are really growing now.

“It’s great to see we are improving all the time. This team fight for each other now and they fight for every ball. It goes a really long way.”

Kyle spoke to The Gazette after McDonald decided not to perform his usual post-match media duties.

The manager will have been pleased with a point on a wet and windy night at Bloomfield Road, and Kyle added: “It was a good point.

“They are high-flying in the league and everyone is tipping them to get promoted, so we knew it was going to be tough.

“We possibly could have won as we had chances but I think both teams will feel a point was deserved.”

Pool have now picked up five points from three games, conceding just one goal.

Keeper Colin Doyle took the man of the match award after a number of fine saves – his first-half stop to deny Connor Sammon was as important as a goal.

And Kyle said the defensive toughness is something the team have worked hard on.

“We are really pleased with the clean sheet. We build everything we do on keeping clean sheets,” he said. “If you do that you know you’ll either get one point or three.

“It was a draining pitch but we had drummed into the players the importance of not conceding, so we were delighted.

“We knew their front two would be a threat but we dealt with them really well.

“It’s not just the back four and the keeper who deserve credit – it’s the whole squad. They are all working so hard for each other.”

One worry for the Seasiders was an injury to Will Aimson, who limped off in the second half, but Kyle is hopeful the defender will be OK.”

“We will have him checked in the morning but I don’t think it was a bad one,” he said.

“We think he’s just had a heavy knock on his knee but we won’t take any chances.”