Blackpool manager Simon Grayson has insisted his side will be doing all they can to win against Wolverhampton Wanderers under-23s and progress to the next round of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. 

Some may look at the EFL Trophy as competition keen to get out of as soon as possible but for Simon Grayson he wants his side to qualify for the next round with a win over Wolves under-23s, insisting the competition is not a distraction.

After a captivating 4-3 victory over Peterborough United on Saturday, Grayson has challenged his players to win in the EFL Trophy and to beat Morecambe in the FA Cup on Saturday to keep building on the winning momentum.

Speaking to the Blackpool Gazette ahead of the EFL Trophy match, Grayson said: "I want to get through on Tuesday night and get into the next round, then we will turn our attention to Morecambe in the FA Cup on Saturday."

Discussing the different competitions Grayson said: "Regardless of who plays in what competition, you have to play with the intensity we played with on Saturday. If you do that, you’ve got the signs of a successful football club."

Blackpool produced a disappointing display in their last EFL Trophy match losing 2-1 to Carlisle United, leaving Grayson furious at the display.

Discussing the last game in the competition, Grayson said: "I’m passionate about winning football matches, and we didn’t do enough against Carlisle and got beat, we want to progress in that competition and we want to progress in the FA Cup because we want to build momentum."

Despite the opponents or competition, Grayson told the Blackpool Gazette he wants his players to provide him with a selection headache: "We’ve got to make sure that, irrespective of the team we put out, we go and perform and give me a problem to pick a team next week."

The Verdict

I have to agree with the Blackpool boss here, when he says a winning side, whatever the competition, builds momentum.

I don't buy into teams who want to deliberately be knocked out of a competition or fielding a weak line-up when there is the chance to win a football match up for grabs.

Winning in any competition will give the players confidence and being in the winning habit is only a good thing for any team.

There is no reason why Blackpool shouldn't be looking at getting to the latter stages of this competition and repeating the success they had in it in 2004, where current boss Grayson started in the final.

The momentum the Seasiders could build up in this competition will no doubt boost their confidence for the league.