Ian Evatt vowed to send Wanderers out swinging as they look to hit back at derby rivals Wigan, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites saw their seven-match unbeaten league run end with a 4-1 loss at Blackpool.
Wanderers were seething at a red card for captain Ricardo Almeida Santos – which could keep him out of Tuesday night’s trip to the Latics – and felt the free-kick that saw the Seasiders cancel out George Thomason’s early opener shouldn’t have been allowed.
But Evatt didn’t offer up excuses for only a second league loss since mid-December and hopes to re-pay the faith of the fans at the DW Stadium when Wanderers will have another chance to potentially move back into the League One play-offs places.
“Firstly, I just apologise to the fans that travelled. We let ourselves down today. Regardless of the scenarios that took place in the game, we have to own our own space and there were still things we could have avoided and things we could have done better,” said the Wanderers’ boss, whose side remains third in the table having played fewer games than the top two.
“I thought we started the game really well. We were on top, in control and got the goal with a great finish from Tommo. We looked comfortable and then from a free-kick we switch off. We know it wasn't a foul, but it is what it is and we have to get on with it.
“Even after conceding the two goals, which were really sloppy, we've had two clear-cut, gilt-edged critical opportunities that have to be goals and goals change games.
“My sorrow is for the fans. We haven't got time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to pick ourselves up. We've got a huge derby match on Tuesday that we need to perform in and somehow try and put that right.
“Loads of times in my tenure here we've been knocked on the canvas and we just have to get up and get up fast and come out punching and swinging. When your back’s against the wall you come out punching and we have a great opportunity to somehow redeem ourselves on Tuesday with our fans.”
As things stand Almeida Santos will miss the trip to Wanderers’ near neighbours, although the Whites intend to appeal the red card given to their captain as he committed the foul that led to the penalty which saw Blackpool go 3-1 up 20 minutes into the second half and virtually guarantee the points against 10 men.
“Whether you give a penalty or not, nobody can argue that he didn't go for the ball,” added Evatt. “There's not a man in here that could argue that. He's clearly gone for the ball. He’s not looked at the opposition once. He was goal-side and it's a baffling decision.
“We have to appeal that. Even if he gives it a penalty it's a yellow card. The double jeopardy rule was brought in for that reason and it (playing on with 11 men) still gives us a chance because I still think we were going to create chances, but that just kills the game.
“This doesn't define our season. It just makes our job tougher. We know the points we are going to need to accrue and we know what we need to do to make sure that happens.
“If we get promoted at the end of this season I'm sure the fans will forget this and let us off with this one and e have a great opportunity to try and put it right on Tuesday.”