Lee Clark: 'Boro showed their versatility, they're a very, very good side'

Blackpool boss Lee Clark felt Boro showed their versatility at Bloomfield Road but believes his side deserved at least a point against a “very good team”.

Aitor Karanka sprung a surprise ahead of kick-off, making seven changes from the side that beat Charlton at the weekend and adopting an unfamiliar 3-5-2 system to help cope with the horrendous Blackpool pitch.

And it worked - just - as Boro picked up all three points thanks to Kike’s late winner.

With Blackpool now 10 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship, Clark admitted even a point wouldn’t have been enough as the Tangerines look to stage an unlikely survival act.

But he was left frustrated after Boro snatched all three points in a dramatic finale.

“Points aren’t enough but it would have been a good point against a very, very good team,” said the deflated Blackpool boss.

Blackpool's manager Lee Clark shouts instructions to his team during the game with Boro

“They showed their versatility because they’ve changed their team around to adapt to the conditions and to the style of the pitch and they’ve done it very well.

“It shows the quality they have. Good players can adapt to any sort of surface.”

Aitor Karanka left Lee Tomlin, Patrick Bamford, Grant Leadbitter and Ben Gibson out of his starting line-up while George Friend was missing with illness.

With Bournemouth and Derby sharing the spoils in their crunch clash on the south coast, it was a huge opportunity for Boro to take advantage.

But they had to dig deep in a game that was scrappy for long periods against the basement boys.

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Jonathan Woodgate looked to have scored the winner with less than 10 minutes to play but Blackpool drew level when Ben Gibson diverted the ball into his own net.

But the defender’s blushes were spared thanks to Kike’s late winner to send Boro top.

“I think we went toe to toe with them in every aspect,” said Clark.

“The disappointing thing for me is we’ve conceded from a throw-in and a corner kick which is always disappointing.

“We didn’t deserve to lose the game, whether we deserved to win it was another thing.

“I’m frustrated because it’s a blow that we’ve lost the game.”