Allen blast fails to rally Brentford

An extraordinary mid-match team talk by Martin Allen failed to save Brentford from a 2-1 defeat at Blackpool.

With his side two goals down after 15 minutes and in danger of falling further behind, the Brentford manager took advantage of a break in play to beckon all 10 outfield players to the touchline for a frank exchange of views.

The team responded with more purpose but their only reward was an 84th-minute strike from on-loan Fulham midfielder Darren Pratley.

Allen said: "We weren't playing well. They weren't playing how they can. It was only a little gee-up. They don't choose to play like that. It was a chance to regroup and ask for a little bit more but it wasn't to be."

Blackpool took the lead in the seventh minute when Keith Southern beat Stuart Nelson from 25 yards. Eight minutes later, Southern took advantage of slack marking to head in a free-kick from close range.

The visitors came back into the game after Allen's touchline intervention, with Isaiah Rankin, Michael Turner and Jay Tabb all going close before Pratley's late consolation.

In the 89th minute, striker Deon Burton was sent off for a second booking following a challenge on Blackpool keeper Lee Jones. The result leaves Brentford in seventh place, one point outside the play-off places.

Allen said: "There are nine games to go. I've said from day one it's a 10-month competition. If we had won, we would not have been popping champagne and, if we lost, as we did, we wouldn't be jumping off the roof. We'll dust ourselves down and get ready for the next game."