BLUES boss Steve Tilson has revealed he took Lee Sawyer off to make his side more solid in the closing stages against Stockport County on Saturday.

The Shrimpers boss substituted the young midfielder and brought on Osei Sankofa following Dan Harding’s dismissal.

And, although the decision was greeted with boos by the home supporters, Tilson knows it was the right decision.

“We were down to 10 men and for me it was a no-brainer,” said the Seasiders chief. “Tactically it was the right thing to do because we wanted to make sure we held on to what we had. We wanted to be nice and solid in there and go to a 4-4-1 formation.

“We needed Osei on at left back and it was actually Alan McCormack who replaced Lee Sawyer, it was just that Macca wasn’t ready to come on at the same time.

“The fans are entitled to their own opinions but we got a good point from the game and I think I made the right decision.”