Steve Bruce has conceded that Blackpool’s play-off hopes have taken a major hit following their 2-1 loss to Rotherham United, describing the gap to the top six as a “mountain to climb”.
The Seasiders were second-best at the New York Stadium on Saturday, with a Sonny Carey penalty providing the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing showing.
Elsewhere, results compounded the misery. A draw for Leyton Orient against Wigan and wins for Bolton Wanderers and others meant Bruce’s side dropped to 10th in League One, now six points adrift of the final play-off spot—while several rivals still hold a game in hand.
Long Wait, Big Challenge
Blackpool now face a 13-day break due to the postponement of their scheduled game against Birmingham City. When they return to action against Stevenage on Good Friday, the gap to sixth could have widened even further.
“We’d all be lying if we said we weren’t looking at the table… We’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb. Perhaps we’ve given ourselves too much to do, but we can’t give up on it.”
Bruce accepted that the performance against Rotherham wasn’t up to the level expected, despite a recent upturn in form that had brought renewed optimism about a late push for promotion.
He outlined the plan for the international break, giving players some rest before building up to a critical double-header against Stevenage and Wrexham.
“We’ll give them a couple of days off, then get prepared for two games in four days and see where we are,” Bruce added.
Despite the setback, the veteran manager insisted there is no loss of belief inside the dressing room, though he acknowledged the pressure now rests squarely on the squad’s shoulders if they’re to keep their season alive.
Site Opinion
Bruce’s comments strike the balance between realism and resilience. The play-offs aren’t mathematically out of reach—but they’re slipping further from view. The break could either be a blessing or a curse. What’s certain is this: Blackpool can’t afford any more slip-ups. Their Easter fixtures now look like must-wins, not just for the table—but for morale too.
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