Bowyer: Blackpool are in safe hands with Lumley

Don’t miss the latest football news and gossip from leagues in England, Scotland and Europe with footballwire.co.ukThe 23-year-old made a string of fine saves to secure a 0-0 draw from an under-par display at MK Dons.

QPR keeper Lumley has now kept six clean sheets in 12 games and Pool manager Bowyer said: “Since Joe has been with us, he’s looked very assured.

“He’s not had a great deal to do in some of the games but against MK he made two or three very good saves. But that’s the role of the goalkeeper.

“We tried to get him in the summer to be with us for the season but unfortunately we could only get him in January.

“I rate him very highly and I think he can go a long, long way in the game. I thought he proved that here.”

Despite their lacklustre performance, Bowyer’s side nearly snatched the three points in the final minute as substitute Sean Longstaff hit the underside of the crossbar.

It was similar to the midfielder’s effort in the first minute of the 1-1 draw against Southend United the previouls weekend, when Longstaff also rattled the woodwork.

However, defeat would have been harsh on MK, who remain in the bottom four despite a battling performance.

Bowyer admits his side were far from their best but he will no doubt be pleased to see the gap between the Seasiders and the bottom increase to seven points with just eight games left.

Bowyer added: “We weren’t at our fluid best with the ball, but when you come away from home and keep a clean sheet you’ve got to be pleased.

“That’s two weeks on the trot Sean Longstaff has done exactly the same from exactly the same position. He’s disappointed in the dressing room.

“We were a little bit dangerous on the counter-attack towards the end of the game.

“From our point of view, we didn’t show what we are about.”

Longstaff’s chance came after the midfielder had come off the bench with 25 minutes to go.

The on-loan Newcastle United midfielder had been surprisingly dropped as Nathan Delfouneso came back into the side.

“We just felt that Sean needed a breather,” Bowyer added. “He came out of it and was better for the break. We felt the time was right for that.

“We hoped Delfouneso’s pace would trouble MK and that was the plan.

“But you saw the response of Sean. He was terrific when he came on and nearly won us the game.”