Grayson reflective. Post Blackpool reaction

Last updated : 10 December 2008 By Angus Muller
"We knew it was going to be difficult but we felt that throughout the game we always had a chance," said Grayson.

"We worked hard to stay in the game but one or two things have contrived against us to deny us that.

"Whether it was a sending-off or not I'm not sure but the ref was quick to make that decision.

"We were always going to be on the back foot then and maybe we could have nicked something because we were denied a stonewall penalty.

"Stephen Hunt has caught it with both hands and how the ref and the linesman have not seen it when they were quick to see everything else all night is beyond me.

"I got warned once for querying the linesman when he waited for the referee to make a decision for him and then I appealed the decision for the penalty.

"I never swore or got in anyone's face but I was backing my players.

"Because we're small town Blackpool people think we don't deserve to get results at places like this but they deserved better."

Steve Coppell was happy with his second 1 - 0 win in a row.

"We scored and then there was the sending-off and we've obviously found in recent weeks that the mentality changes with 10 men.

"If we'd got a second we would have relaxed but we know ourselves that playing against 10 men is difficult and we got anxious.

"We gave away too many silly fouls with a referee who liked the sound of his own whistle and I could see them nicking one from a set-piece.

"But we did enough in the end."