Promising signs for Neil Critchley as Blackpool play out goalless draw at Fleetwood Town in his first game in charge

The Seasiders were the dominant side in the first half, Critchley's men enjoying the lion's share of the territory thanks to their high pressing.

Nathan Delfouneso ought to have done better with a first-time effort 10 yards out from goal, while substitute Joe Nuttall missed a glaring chance late on.

Fleetwood were the better side in the second half, however, and eventually the two teams were both satisfied to settle for a draw.

Reflecting on his first game in charge, Critchley said: “I was really impressed with the team, especially in the first half.

“I thought we were the team in control of the game in that half and were in their half a lot, although we probably didn’t quite turn that territory and that domination into clear-cut opportunities - although we had one or two.

“Second half we had less control and I’d have liked us to have been a bit better.

“But I have to say I thought we defended superbly well throughout the game and for a team that is in such good form, we restricted them to very few chances throughout.

“Generally over the 90 minutes I’m really pleased with how the players played.

“We looked very solid.

“First half we were on the front foot and we were playing in their half and we protected our attacks really well, so we stopped them from getting out.

“I thought our shape and what we had worked on looked really good.

“Second half when the ball was flying forward we had to defend a lot of longer balls and they turned us and won free kicks and corners, but we stood up to it really well.

“That wasn’t just the defenders, that was the midfielders picking up second balls and the strikers holding the ball up and allowing us to get out.

“Again, if I’ve got one small criticism I think we could have passed the ball and kept the ball a little bit better in the second half.

“That would have allowed us to get up the pitch a bit better and take their momentum away from them a little bit.”

Critchley added: “It was difficult conditions and I think you could see the impact of that - first half it was us, second half it was probably more of them.

“But we coped with the conditions very well throughout the whole game.

“We saw two committed teams on the pitch and some good players as well.

“I did say before the game there wouldn’t be a lot in it, I thought it would come down to fine margins or that little bit of luck. It didn’t go for either team.”