Potts: I understand my role, I have to perform better

The midfield man is widely regarded as Blackpool’s most talented player but questions have been asked about his performances in the last couple of months.

But the 21-year-old says he’s happy to take that, and was relieved to be back on the score sheet in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Chesterfield.

“I’ve been disappointed with how I’ve been playing recently and have got a bit frustrated with myself to be honest,” the former Carlisle man admitted.

“It felt good to contribute more on Tuesday.

“I know what I’m in the team for, I’m there to get forward and make things happen.

“When I don’t do that I have to deal with the pressure and criticism.”

Potts scored Pool’s only goal on Tuesday night but really caught the eye with an attacking display, breaking from midfield on a regular basis.

It’s what many expected from the former England youth international when he arrived from the Cumbrians for £125,000 last summer.

While he’s been asked to play in a midfield two for much of the season so far, the switch to a 4-3-3 formation is something he said suits him much better.

Potts explained: “I felt like we were breaking a lot and I could get on the ball in the final third.

“It’s what I want to do. For me I do feel better in a three as it allows me to move forward, when you’re in a two you have to be disciplined.

“With that formation I had more licence to get forward, I think that’s what my game is about.

“It opened up in front of me for the goal and I was thankful to see it go in, even though it took a deflection.”

Boss Neil McDonald was full of praise for his Blackpool side after Tuesday’s game, despite the result seeing them slip into the League One relegation zone.

But Potts is convinced the side will avoid the drop.

“We do have enough to stay up, we just have to work hard at it as a team,” he insisted.

“On Tuesday we managed to go 1-0 up but it was disappointing not to push on and not to win the game from there.

“When things aren’t going your way those chances don’t go in, do they.

“But we are due some luck and hopefully that will change soon.”

Blackpool face another long trip this weekend as they face Millwall in South London.

And Potts feels the squad will be making the trip in positive spirits, saying: “We need to take that good performance now into Millwall but we know we need to get results now.

“Hopefully we can take confidence into the Millwall trip and get at least another point, if not the win.”