Ian Evatt was left frustrated after Blackpool's latest League One outing, insisting his side deserved more from the match but that the early loss of Zac Ashworth ultimately proved the difference between the two teams.

Manager convinced Blackpool had the quality to win

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Evatt was characteristically direct in his assessment. "I think we were the best team," he said, a claim that will ring somewhat hollow given the result, but one he was clearly prepared to stand behind.

The Blackpool head coach pointed squarely at the departure of Ashworth as the moment the game turned against his side. Losing a player of that profile, particularly in the defensive or midfield areas where coverage matters most in a tight third-tier contest, can unsettle shape and force tactical compromises that the opposition are only too willing to exploit.

Evatt did not elaborate extensively on the nature of Ashworth's withdrawal, so it would be premature to draw conclusions about the length of any absence. What is clear is that Evatt views it not as an excuse, but as a material factor in how the game unfolded.

A familiar pattern of near-misses

This result adds to what has been a stop-start period for Blackpool. Recent weeks have seen Evatt praise his players' execution and resilience in various interviews, from a hard-earned point at Wycombe Wenderers to an encouraging display at Stockport. The problem, as any supporter who follows the Tangerines closely will recognise, is converting those encouraging performances into the wins that move clubs up the table rather than keeping them hovering in the middle of the pack.

League One is a division that punishes inconsistency with quiet efficiency. A dropped point here, a defeat attributed to a single injury there, and the gap to the automatic promotion places or the play-off spots begins to stretch in ways that feel manageable in August but become pressing by November.

Blackpool's squad depth will inevitably come under scrutiny if Ashworth is ruled out for any significant period. Evatt has shown throughout his tenure that he prefers to work with a settled group rather than rotate extensively, which makes individual absences all the more disruptive to whatever system he has been building.

Evatt's message to the squad

The Blackpool manager has spoken repeatedly this season about the need for ruthlessness, a word he has returned to in several post-match settings. Whether that message is landing in the dressing room is something the league table, rather than the press conference room, will answer.

For now, Evatt appears to be drawing a clear line: he believes the football his side played merited a better outcome, and he is not inclined to let a damaging result rewrite his view of the performance. That kind of confidence in a playing identity can be a genuine asset for a manager trying to build something at Bloomfield Road. It can also, if results do not follow, begin to look like stubbornness.

The attention will turn swiftly to Blackpool's next fixture and whether Ashworth is available. Supporters will hope the manager's optimism about the quality on show translates into points rather than just talking points.

Frequently asked

What happened to Zac Ashworth in Blackpool's match?
Blackpool manager Ian Evatt said losing Zac Ashworth during the game cost his side the result, though the exact nature of his withdrawal has not been confirmed.
What did Ian Evatt say after Blackpool's defeat?
Evatt told BBC Radio Lancashire that he believed Blackpool were the best team on the day, but that the loss of Zac Ashworth proved the decisive factor in the result going against them.
Where do Blackpool stand in League One?
Blackpool are competing in League One this season. Their exact league position will depend on the latest results, but recent performances have mixed encouraging displays with dropped points.