Blackpool aiming for fruitful trip to London

ALL eyes will be on Blackpool’s team sheet for today’s Barclays Premier League trip to West Ham – and manager Ian Holloway admits his players have given him plenty to think about.

The Premier League are investigating Holloway’s decision to make 10 changes to his side for Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa, but the biggest talking point for the Tangerines manager was how well his so-called fringe players acquitted themselves.

They came agonisingly close to snatching a draw after DJ Campbell equalised three minutes from time,only for Villa to go straight down the other end and claim the win courtesy of a James Collins’ header.

Many of the players who came in were late summer signings with little or no Premier League experience and Holloway argues they had waited more than long enough for a chance.

“I’ve got a fantastic problem,” he insisted. “I think some of that team have played themselves into my team, and that’s exactly what I wanted them to do.

“They haven’t been rewarded well enough. They deserve to play. If that was my kids and an ice-cream, I’d have bought them an ice-cream long ago because their behaviour’s been absolutely exceptional. Unfortunately, my other kids were doing so well I didn’t want to change it.”

Marlon Harewood and midfielder Ludovic Sylvestre were among the players that stood out at Villa Park but the one who really caught the eye was teenage winger Matt Phillips.

The England Under-19 international marked his Premier League debut against Blackburn in September with a goal two minutes after coming off the bench and his impact on his first top flight start was no less impressive.

The youngster, who joined the club in August from Wycombe for an initial fee of €383,000, caused Villa’s defence all sorts of problems and set up Harewood’s opening goal with an audacious back-heel.

Holloway was glowing in his praise of the 19-year-old, saying: “I thought he was absolutely unplayable at times. Everybody talks about Charlie Adam, soon the name on everybody’s lips is going to be Matty Phillips.

“He’s got to learn, he’s still only very young and he’s stepped up two levels. But the boy’s an absolute breath of fresh air. If anybody’s got a better young English player in their locker, I’d like to see him.”

West Ham have been in the bottom three all season and will kick off the match sitting at the foot of the table, with their only win coming against Tottenham in September.

Holloway, though, does not expect the Hammers to stay at the bottom and admits his team will need to raise their game from their previous trips to London, which have brought 6-0 and 4-0 defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.

“It’s as tough a game as anybody else in the Premier League because I think their team is in a false position. They’ve got some magnificent players. They’ve also had some upheaval, so things haven’t quite gone their way yet. Our travels to London haven’t been very fruitful so far, but hopefully this time can be a lot more positive.”