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

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.

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.

"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.

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.

"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.

"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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