Blackpool boss Steve Bruce felt his side let themselves down by performing poorly in their 1-1 draw at home to struggling Shrewsbury.
Despite taking the lead on the hour through Rob Apter, the hosts were pinned back and were unable to pick up their first home league win since late September.
“We haven’t played enough for a side who are at home. Fair play to them, they came with a game plan,” Bruce said.
“They had five across the back and four across the midfield and sat off us. It was a really frustrating day and we didn’t have enough craft. One little bit of magic scores us a goal but all too often we kept giving the ball away cheaply and that is what has cost us and really it is as simple as that.
“(For the equaliser) we have given the ball away twice in dangerous areas and it has cost us a goal and potentially two points. They took their goal well but really it is on us and we have simply just given the ball away too cheaply in that instance.
“It is a really frustrating afternoon for us. The team have played so well away from home and we now seem to be the reverse of what we were in last year (when I wasn’t here) when we could only win games at home. We really do have to improve that.”
Shrewsbury boss Gareth Ainsworth was delighted with the spirit shown by his team as they battled back.
They levelled 10 minutes from time thanks to a piece of real quality from right winger Tom Bloxham who fired a low drive past home keeper Harry Tyrer.
“We came with a plan and I’ve got to say that the plan worked,” Ainsworth said.
“We have come away with an excellent point. The lads who started played their part and also the lads who came on did their job.
“It is tough this time of year with the games coming thick and fast but we are now four unbeaten over the Christmas period and there aren’t too many teams who can boast that kind of record.
“I’m really pleased that we have come away today with a point against a very good Blackpool side. A lot of their players have played a lot of football in the Championship and even some have Premier League appearances to their name so I’m very happy with how we battled back get a draw and keep our little run going.”
Ainsworth heaped praise on his winger Bloxham but was also keen to praise the team’s overall commitment to delivering a solid away performance.
Ainsworth: “He (Bloxham) is a great player. He is very direct. He is very strong and powerful in running forward and he has a goal in him.
“There are definitely things I want to refine in his game to make him better but when you have him on the pitch and the ball gets to him you have a sense that he can make something happen. He gets people off their seats.
“Every person put a lot into it today though and there is experience in this side and that showed today. I think I saw some of the best performances that I have seen from some of them in a Shrewsbury shirt, definitely since I have been here and that gives me real confidence about the future.”
