DJ delivers to ensure ‘Pool party rocks on

THE Blackpool bandwagon rolls on with DJ Campbell scoring a second-half winner against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

It means Ian Holloway’s side have now collected six wins and 22 points from 16 games — a remarkable tally given they were widely tipped for relegation.

“Someone had us down for only 10 (points) after 38 games. Bit of a laughing stock we were going to be,” said Holloway afterwards.

“I just want to keep going. Twenty-two points won’t keep you safe. How many more do we need? Maybe more than 40 points.

“To come to a place that is so hard to win at, it was a fantastic display. We rode our luck, our keeper was exceptional. This is as good as we have been.

“We had some big performances and DJ deserved the goal for the way he is playing.”

Prior to kick-off a montage of the late Stanley Matthews, who served both clubs and England with distinction, was well received by home and away supporters.

Matthews would have been proud of the way Blackpool not only kept the ball but showed resilience when needed.

Stoke huffed and puffed but were left deflated as their five-match unbeaten run came to an end.

Blackpool showed what they were about in the 15th minute when David Vaughan clipped a volley narrowly over the top after a cross from Stephen Crainey.

Holloway’s side were beginning to settle into the game and Campbell found himself in a good position, however, he found the wrong side of the post with his effort.

Stoke almost took the lead in the 36th minute following a piece of inspiration from Ricardo Fuller.

The Jamaican got on the end of pass from Matthew Etherington 25 yards out and sent in a superb shot that beat Richard Kingson but came back off the bar.

Back came Blackpool and Charlie Adam delivered a delightful ball into the path of Elliot Grandin six yards out.

But the midfielder seemed slow to react and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic got there ahead of him and made the clearance.

Stoke were anxious to make the breakthrough before half time and twice came close to taking the lead.

Jermaine Pennant, showing no ill-effects after his injury, delivered a cross into the path of Rory Delap but he headed into the arms of the goalkeeper. Then Delap found the net but his celebration was cut short when the effort was disallowed for Huth’s challenge on Kingson.

Stoke made a determined start to the second half and Dean Whitehead found space on the edge of the area but could only hoist his shot over the bar.

Two minutes later Blackpool launched a swift counter-attack and Campbell opened the scoring.

Adam and Luke Varney linked up, resulting in a deft finish by Campbell at the back post.

It was the striker’s third league goal of the campaign following his arrival from Leicester in August.

Blackpool were growing in confidence at a ground where some of the top sides in the league have found it a struggle in the past.

Adam and Vaughan were pulling the strings in midfield and that meant Fuller and Jones were being deprived of good service.

Fuller did break into the area in the 63rd minute only to scuff his shot wide of the post.

Blackpool then came within a whisker of adding a second goal in the 66th minute.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher came up on the blind side to get on the end of an inswinging free-kick from Adam only for his header to come back off the bar.

Stoke came close to equalising in the 73rd minute when Etherington struck a free-kick firm and true only for it to rattle the woodwork.

A reflective Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: “We knew it would be an open game. We have watched a lot of Blackpool this year and they are playing roulette football.

“They are throwing the dice and hoping things will drop for them. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin and this is one of those occasions.”