ROY Evans clearly believed buckets and spades not football dominated his players' thoughts as they kicked off at Bloomfield Road against the Seasiders.

The director of football felt Town's mental approach had not been right and that had cost his side the points as much as sloppy play.

He said: "We weren't sharp in the head and that's an important part of football."

Evans admitted that he had rounded on his players at the break and kindly asked them 'when are you going to start?'

He said: "The ending was better than the beginning, that's for sure, but we started slowly and, to be fair, in the first-half it could have been over.

"It was a better performance in the second half. We started to look more of a threat and in the end could have stolen it.

"But on the day they deserved to win as they were better and sharper than us all over the pitch.

"We had a little lifeline right at the death but we couldn't take it.

"We gave their lad far too much space for the goal and didn't close him down, giving him a free shot."

Evans, while not making excuses for his side, said pre-match injuries and suspensions had disrupted the shape of his side.

A decision to play Andy Gurney was only made at the last minute and players were rejigged to fit the team pattern of play.

"We looked better organised in the second-half and ended up causing them some problems."

But Evans said all managers had to cope with absentees from time to time and it was a question of just 'getting on with it'.

While acknowledging Blackpool's play, Evans said there was no doubt that Town had contributed to their own downfall.

He said: "It was only the last half hour where we've really started to put them under pressure and started looking like a better unit.

Evans said Eric Sabin's return had been welcome but said it would take time for the Frenchman to regain his match sharpness.

He said: "It was one of those afternoons where he didn't get a break and never looked like causing them too many problems but all credit to them for not giving him the space."

As for the penalty miss, Evans admitted it wasn't the best strike he'd ever seen but you couldn't crucify a man for having the self-belief to step forward under such pressure.

He said: "He had the courage to take it. You hope it goes in but on this occasion it didn't."