Manager Paul Hurst felt his side were well worthy of their 3-1 away victory at League One side Blackpool in the second round of the Leasing.com Trophy, which extended his side’s run of successive victories to four games.
Kevin van Veen and Abo Eisa (two) scored the goals as United emerged victorious from Bloomfield Road for only the second time in 19 years.
The boss told iFollow Iron: “I thought we played very well. We spoke about having the right attitude towards the game prior to it, playing in front of a largely empty stadium, although I’m sure the fans who made the trip to support us enjoyed the night and we truly appreciate the backing.
“In the second-half, I felt we were fine and then they changed it a bit and got a goal. Then Jake Eastwood has had to make a save after that, and that was their only period really. They had a man sent off but over the course of the 90 minutes and injury time we deservedly went through.”
The boss added: “Nearly all of the players have played at League One level except Jake (Eastwood), albeit he’s come on loan from a higher team (Sheffield United). Each and every one of them could say they’re capable of playing League One football, and it was a case of going out there and proving that individually and most importantly as a team, to try and extend the run we’re on, and they did that against a good team.
“We know we have a break after this and it’s good going into it not stewing on a bad performance. It keeps spirits high in the changing room and we come straight back into a very tough game against Forest Green in second place (in League Two) when we return to action.”
Matthew Lund will miss that game through a three-match suspension, and the boss continued: “We lose Lundy now for three games so someone has got to come in, fill that void and pick up the mantle from him to try and keep us progressing. The lads in the background are just as important as the ones on the pitch and they have to push standards in training. At some point we’ll need every single one of them.”
Speaking about knocks on the night, he concluded: “Kevin (van Veen) took a kick to his shin but managed to come through that. Hopefully we’ve come through unscathed.”
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