Ian Evatt described it as "a fantastic result" after Blackpool produced a dominant 4-0 win, with on-loan forward Jerry Yates making an instant impact on his return to the club.

Yates delivers straight away

Yates, who rejoined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Luton Town earlier in the summer, wasted little time in justifying the faith Evatt showed in bringing him back to Bloomfield Road. Getting on the scoresheet in such a convincing win is precisely the sort of start supporters and management alike would have hoped for when the deal was struck.

Evatt was fulsome in his praise of the striker after the final whistle, singling him out as a key figure in the performance. Whether Yates started or came off the bench, his contribution to a four-goal haul underlines both his own confidence and a collective sharpness that has been a point of emphasis for the Blackpool manager this season.

A statement scoreline

A 4-0 scoreline is not the kind of result you accumulate by accident in the third tier. It requires a degree of clinical finishing, defensive solidity and the sort of coherent gameplan that Evatt has been building at Bloomfield Road. Earlier in the campaign, the manager had spoken openly about demanding a "ruthless edge" from his players, and on the evidence of this result, that message has landed.

The margin of victory will do Blackpool's goal difference no harm either, a metric that can prove decisive during a congested League One season where points at the top and bottom of the table regularly end up level.

Momentum in the third tier

Blackpool arrive at this result on the back of what has been a mixed but not discouraging start to the season. Evatt has spoken after recent fixtures about executing gameplans and absorbing setbacks, and a four-goal performance suggests the squad is beginning to find a consistency of output that will be essential if the club are to mount any kind of serious push up the table.

The return of Yates adds a focal point to the attack that had perhaps been lacking. Familiarity with the club, its style and its supporters counts for something in League One, and a goal on his comeback will have done no harm to his relationship with the Bloomfield Road faithful.

Evatt was understandably pleased with how his side went about their business. Whether this result marks a genuine shift in gear or a welcome but isolated performance is the question the coming weeks will answer. For now, Blackpool's manager and supporters will take the three points and the clean sheet, and enjoy a scoreline that does not come along too often at this level.

Further details on the opposition and full goalscorers were not available at the time of writing, but the BBC Radio Lancashire post-match interview with Evatt confirmed the scoreline and Yates's contribution.

Frequently asked

Did Jerry Yates score on his return to Blackpool?
Yes, Jerry Yates scored during Blackpool's 4-0 win, marking his return to the club following his season-long loan from Luton Town.
What did Ian Evatt say after the 4-0 win?
Evatt described the result as 'a fantastic result' and praised Jerry Yates specifically for his performance and goal on his return to Bloomfield Road.
Where did Jerry Yates join Blackpool from?
Jerry Yates rejoined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Luton Town during the summer transfer window.