Steve Bruce apologises to Blackpool fans, describing 4-1 defeat to Exeter ‘the worst’

Steve Bruce apologises to Blackpool fans, describing the 4-1 defeat to Exeter ‘the worst’ result since he’s been at the club.

Exeter bounced back from their 1-0 defeat at Doncaster and secured their first League One win of the season on Saturday, Reece Cole scoring early, followed by a Jack Fitzwater header. Blackpool responded with a goal from Ashley Fletcher, but Exeter dominated, with Jayden Wareham and substitute Sonny Cox sealing the victory with goals in the 60th and 90th minutes.

Despite Blackpool’s big-money signings, they couldn’t recover. Ahead of the season, Steve Bruce said he was confident his side would be promotion contenfers. They’re certainly way off that standard. They’ve now lost 3-2 to Stevenage and 4-1 to Exeter, leaving them 22nd at this early stage.

Exeter XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Swinkels, Fitzwater, Turns, McMillan, Brierley, Doyle-Hayes (Cox 71′), Cole (C) (McDonald, 80′), Aitchison (Dean, 85′), Wareham (Magennis, 80′).

Subs not used: Bycroft (GK), Birch, Cummins

Goals: Cole 4′, Fitzwater 14′, Wareham 60′, Cox 90′

Blackpool XI: Peacock-Farrell (GK), Lyons, Casey, Brown, Evans, Ennis, Honeyman, Fletcher, Coulson, Ihiekwe, Hansson.

Subs: Ravizzoli (GK), Bloxham, Ebiowei, Hamilton, Ashworth, Finnigan

Goal: Fletcher 21′

Attendance: 6,852 (548 away)

Steve Bruce on today’s defeat at @OfficialECFC: ⬇️

🍊 #UTMP | @sbk pic.twitter.com/kMUBV8T14s

— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) August 9, 2025

Steve Bruce said, per the club website: “I think it is arguably the worst afternoon since I’ve been at the Club.

“The first thing I would like to do is apologise to the supporters, who certainly deserve more than that after travelling all that way yesterday or this morning. We just haven’t performed well enough in every department.

“Slow start, sloppy and ultimately didn’t take part in the game. There was no real urgency about us on and off the ball. We were lethargic.

“I could go on and on about everything that was lacking today. We prided ourselves last season on being resilient away from home but we didn’t do the basics well today.

The Seasiders were left wanting from set plays at St James Park and Bruce reiterated that his side have to do better in that department.

“Today we didn’t defend set pieces well enough.

“We conceded twice from a throw in, once from a corner and one from a free-kick. It was a catalogue of errors repeatedly. It has been a really difficult afternoon. We were nowhere near consideration today. It’s frustrating for us all.”

“We have got a big cup tie on Tuesday night and then Huddersfield next Saturday.

“The games are going to come thick and fast. We have made an awful start, there is no getting around that but we have got to see our way through it. We need to play well and get individuals seasons underway.

“I believe we have a better squad than we did at this time last year we just need to put in a lot of work to get the team into shape and quickly.”

Exeter’s Gary Caldwell said, per the club website: “That was a brilliant performance, and was outstanding from start to finish. We dominated every area, in possession we were really dynamic and tactically very good with a really clear idea of how to play.

“Our decision making was outstanding and out of possession we were superb, when we had to press we really went for them and when we had to sit in a block there was a real understanding of what to do.

“I’m so happy for the players and I said to them just now that it didn’t start today, it started on Tuesday, it was a week of preparation. We changed things and went aggressive and the players really bought into it.

“We are going to get things wrong again this season and have difficult days, but the biggest test is how you deal with that. We had honest discussions as a group and we said we wanted this place to become a fortress and be a difficult place to play.

“Overall, I’m delighted with a brilliant response.”

Here’s how Twitter users reacted as Steve Bruce apologises to Blackpool fans, describing his side’s 4-1 defeat to Exeter ‘the worst’ since he’s been at the club…

@jmenzies_: We’ve had 11 shots on target against us and conceded 7 goals. 63% goal rate. Bring back
@HarryTyrer

@Samuel_P_Currie: Honestly the worst I’ve seen us in a very long time. Don’t think we won a single 50/50. Peacock Farrell should never wear the shirt again. Evans completely uninterested. Coulsdon and Ihiekwe criminally out of position constantly. That’s not a case of gelling- that was shameful.

@Alexbod67957828: Exeter played us off the park. Defensively we were abysmal, at least the subs tried a bit.

@TangerineRob: This is what happens when you’re still scrambling around for players when the season has already kicked off. We’ve basically written these early games off. Indefensible. 👎

@leonbolt: To be honest we never expected you to be so poor today……… we weren’t looking forward to this fixture before kickoff

@SteveUnofficial: Send the coach home without them. Make them walk.

@AdValentino: Usually level headed but that is genuinely one of the worst displays ever and there’s some competition on that front.

@tombfcpriv: Give razzifoli a try ffs

@AnthonyC74: Totally lost for words Shipping 7 goals in the first two games is inexcusable. Absolutely horrendous watching that performance. From start to finish absolute shambles. As for the defence well… 💩

@chaddy_9611: Pathetic that, absolutely pathetic from start to finish! Players should be ashamed. We looked lost all over the pitch and didn’t even look like we were up for the game disgraceful

@HereLiesJeff: 2nd to everything. Poor poor defensively. BPF absolutely dreadful. Barely created anything all game, couldn’t get Ennis and Fletch involved.

@ryanmn84: Make every player make their own way back home. Send the manager off for his overdue retirement. All good will vanished after 2 games. We’re nowhere near a Top 6 club, unless that league is League 2 🙃🤮

@Tristan81458868: Rubbish. Players showed no effort whatsoever. Losing is bad enough but the manner we lost in today was totally unacceptable. Bruce very poor tactics and so slow to change things, no style of play whatsoever. Hopeless. What have we done all pre season and in training?

@BramTheBpoolFan: BPF at fault for two if not 3 of the goals. The lad looks like he’s completely lost it. Feel for him as it’s obviously a mental thing but what concerns me more is why the fuck did we sign him??? There’s time to rectify this. Get a shit hot league 2 gk in or buy Tyrer.

@georgehoward167: Fans tickets should be refunded for an almost 9 hour round trip. Dire display today.