Olly: I’ll resign if league rap us for changes to team
The Tangerines boss made 10 changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at the weekend for the clash at Villa Park, with only Keith Southern retaining his place, and the visitors were within a minute of getting a point before James Collins’ late winner.
Wolves were given a suspended £25,000 fine by the Premier League last season after boss Mick McCarthy made 10 changes for a match against Manchester United.
Asked what he would do if the Premier League impose the same punishment on his club, an angry Holloway said: “I’d pack in, I can’t work for this madness. I would resign. They do not know what they’re talking about.”
Blackpool were arguably the better team before Stewart Downing put the hosts ahead with a deflected shot in the 28th minute.
Blackpool ramped up the pressure again and it needed a good challenge from Luke Young to deny Harewood, but in the 28th minute it was Villa who took the lead through Downing on 28 minutes.
The winger played a lengthy one-two with Ashley Young before turning on the edge of the area and sending in a shot that flew past Richard Kingson with the help of a deflection off Dekel Keinan.
Villa were suddenly finding a lot more space and Blackpool were lucky to survive on a couple of occasions, firstly when Luke Young shot over from 15 yards and then a cross-shot from Marc Albrighton that was hacked clear by Jason Euell from just in front of his own goalline.
On the stroke of half-time Blackpool grabbed an equaliser. A brilliant back-heel from Phillips played in Harewood and the former Villa man calmly slotted past Brad Friedel and just inside the far post.
Harewood had more reason than most to celebrate his goal after struggling to make an impression during three years with Villa prior to joining Blackpool this summer.
In the 55th minute Villa thought they had retaken the lead when Ashley Young streaked away down the right and crossed for Delfouneso to head into the far corner.
It looked a good goal but referee Anthony Taylor penalised the striker for a push on Keinan.
Villa had their tails up, however, and Delfouneso only had to wait five minutes to get on the scoresheet, the 19-year-old seizing on a precise pass from Ashley Young and tucking away his shot. Holloway sent on leading scorer Charlie Adam in place of Euell and he almost made an immediate impression with a 25-yard free-kick that was deflected just wide.
Villa should have made the game safe with 10 minutes to go as Downing tore down the left flank before picking out the unmarked Albrighton at the far post, but he shot into the ground and over the bar.
It looked like they would be made to regret that miss when, out of nothing, substitute Campbell equalised with a shot from the edge of the box.
But less than two minutes later the Blackpool’s fans were silenced as Collins squeezed his header just inside the post from Downing’s corner.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Clark, Bannan, Downing, Ashley Young, Delfouneso. Subs: Ireland for Bannan (82), Agbonlahor for Delfouneso (64), Lichaj for Albrighton (80).
Blackpool: Kingson, Basham, Edwards, Keinan, Carney, Southern, Sylvestre, Euell, Phillips, Harewood, Ormerod.Subs: Evatt for Keinan (76), Adams for Euell (72), Campbell for Harewood (78).
Referee: (Anthony Taylor)
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