Blackpool boss Neil Critchley felt his side coped with the conditions and Carlisle United well enough in their win at Brunton Park.

The 1-0 victory over the relegated Blues kept the Seasiders’ play-off hopes alive.

Karamoko Dembele’s first-minute opener was followed by a dominant first half, Blackpool then negotiating a more even second period to seal a third straight in.

It unfolded on a blustery day at Carlisle as the Cumbrians came up short against Critchley’s side.

“We were good first half, got off to a great start, a brilliant break and well taken goal,” he said.

“I thought we were in control first half, but we said we need to score again and had opportunities to do that.

“In the second half it became more attritional. We didn’t give them hardly anything, and had a couple of moments to finish the game ourselves and we didn’t.

“That was a similar pattern to our last few games, and you always think at 1-0 you’re susceptible to one moment.

“It wasn’t easy because of the conditions but at this stage of the season we’ll take a 1-0 win.”

News and Star: Blackpool are still in the play-off huntBlackpool are still in the play-off hunt (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Blackpool, who moved up to seventh and remain three points outside the top six, got in front after just 35 seconds as Dembele broke to score.

“We thought we could possibly hurt them in transition moments, and that was one of them,” he told his club’s official channels. “The pitch was quite open, it was a great touch from Shayne Lavery, and a great finish [by Dembele].

“Sometimes scoring so early can give you a false sense of security in games. We were in control, played some good football, got into good areas but our decision-making, quality, and intelligence on the ball let us down.”

Critchley felt his side should have had a penalty for Paul Huntington’s challenge on Lavery in the first half.

“I thought Shayne had got past his man, who’d gone to ground to put him off – he [Huntington] got some of the ball but probably some of the man first.

“For me it’s a tackle from behind. The referee had a good view. For me it’s a penalty.”

Critchley admitted the strong wind was a testing factor and added: “It was difficult for both sides, swirling around – it wasn’t easy to judge the flight and speed of the ball.

“But generally we played the conditions well. We knew Carlisle would make it difficult for us and they did – they had a couple of moments in the second half.”