I take 'full responsibility' for Blackpool setback - Wigan Athletic chief

Leam Richardson felt his fledgling Wigan Athletic side were handed a tough lesson at the school of hard knocks as Blackpool romped to a 5-0 victory at the DW.
Zach Clough in action against FleetwoodZach Clough in action against Fleetwood
Zach Clough in action against Fleetwood

Wigan Athletic chief takes 'full responsibility' for Blackpool setback

Richardson's side - featuring four players who's joined the club in the last fortnight, and four graduates from the club's Academy, started well against a Blackpool side missing nine first-teamers.

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But once the visitors gained a stranglehold of the game with two goals in the space of two minutes shortly before half-time, there was only going to be one winner.

Latics never gave up the ghost, but only Callum Lang forced Chris Maxwell into a meaningful save, and two goals in the last three minutes added salt to the Wigan wounds.

"Obviously it was a very tough night for us scoreline wise," acknowledged Richardson.

"I thought we were in the ascendancy before their first goal, I thought we were creeping into the game.

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"With all due respect, you're asking a few lads who have only just come into the building to play the second of three matches inside a week, and I think that maybe showed a bit.

"Certainly against Fleetwood on Saturday, we managed to get through on adrenaline.

"But tonight we came up against a very good, very experienced Blackpool team, and every single mistake we made we were punished for it."

Kyle Joseph couldn't quite make the most of a couple of half-chances that came his way.

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And talisman Will Keane - restored to the side after a period of self-isolation - was inches away from getting a final touch to another wicked delivery from Tom Pearce.

"We felt that, and we did have a couple of half chances before they scored that we couldn't quite take.

"But goals obviously change games - especially when you're a team at the younger end of the spectrum.

"And it's my job to educate them that the mindset can't change with disappointment.

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"It's something we're going to have to learn - and learn very quickly.

"You learn a lot from adversity, and you have to show the mentality to get out of it.

"It's a tough thing to do when things are going against you - especially when you're a young side experiencing things for the first time.

"Blackpool have got a heavy squad with a few players probably above this level.

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"I'll take all the responsibility for the result, and we'll just try and let the lads recover, regroup, digest and reflect for the weekend."

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