Blackpool boss McDonald says it's make or break for his men ahead of Spireites clash

Blackpool FC players in training at Squires Gate. Pictured is manager Neil McDonald.

Goal difference alone separates 20th-placed Pool from the relegation zone after they took just one point from four games in a terrible February and now face seven matches during a busy March which will shape their season.

And manager McDonald admits crunch time is approaching for his players.

“All the games are big now. March is a big month for us,” said the Pool boss. “We have to try to hold our nerve this month and concentrate on each task as it comes along.

“It’s going to make or break our season and a few teams’. We have to try to pick up points.

“We have to remain positive and try to believe we can pick up points wherever we go.

“February hasn’t been kind to us, that’s for sure. It’s on a par with August, which wasn’t great, but we have to make sure we don’t feel too sorry for ourselves.

“There are still plenty of games left and we aren’t in the bottom four.”

One-time Pool loanee Kyel Reid, currently on loan to the Bantams from Preston, scored the 54th-minute winner in a game of very few chances.

Pool’s next two matches are away, at Chesterfield tomorrow and at Millwall on Saturday, and McDonald hopes that can help his side.

He admitted: “We’ve just lost that bit of spark at the moment at home but we’ll brush ourselves down.

“We have had a good run at home but can’t seem to get over the line at the moment.

“Now we have two away games coming up and it’s important we get some points.

“We’ve won just two games away from Bloomfield Road this season and we know just how big more (wins) can be.”

Bradford boss Phil Parkinson hailed his players for dealing with what he described as a “difficult” Bloomfield Road pitch.

Parkinson’s Bantams are just a point outside the play-off zone and he said: “I was delighted with the win because conditions were very difficult with the state of the pitch. I thought we mastered the pitch well.

“It was one of those days when you don’t want to be sat on the coach moaning about the pitch afterwards. You have to get the job done and we did. It was a very strong, professional performance from us.”