Holloway hopes to have stopped slide

BLACKPOOL is renowned for its rollercoasters, and this season has been one hell of a ride for boss Ian Holloway.

When Gabriel Agbonlahor opened the scoring for Aston Villa after 10 minutes it could have opened the floodgates.

Instead Blackpool regrouped quickly and equalised four minutes later thanks to Elliot Grandin.

“The first 15 minutes was probably the worst since I have been here,” said Holloway.

“They scored a brilliant goal on the break and that should have rocked us.

“But instead it stabilised us and my lads got back believing in themselves a little bit. We got an equaliser and I felt we would go on and win it.

“When Villa went down to 10 men it probably ruined it and I started panicking about their pace on the break. Some of it looked as though it was on fast-forward.

“We stuck in there, kept going, threw everything at them and unfortunately for us we have only got a point.

“I think that has stopped the rot, though, and now we can have another go at Tottenham. We played better than that last week and got nothing.”

Charlie Adam, the talk of Blackpool this season, almost inspired the Seasiders into the lead in the 54th minute.

The Scotland midfielder released Varney on the left wing and he skipped to the byline before delivering the cross.

DJ Campbell got on the end of it at the near post but clipped his effort wide of the target.

Villa were struggling and they were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Jean Makoun was given a straight red card after a challenge on Campbell.

Villa held on, but lacked drive after their bright opening and this must be a concern to manager Gerard Houllier.

Not that he said as much.

“You have to show different qualities. We were resilient and disciplined. I am very proud of my players,” he said.

“It is not easy when you are away at Blackpool and down to 10 men. It was a hard-fought point.”

Houllier explained he had replaced England striker Darren Bent with Emile Heskey in the second half simply because he was tired, adding: “He had a full game for the national team. What with the travelling he wasn’t as lively as usual.”

Holloway, meanwhile, will step up his search for a goalkeeper this week after being frustrated in his initial attempts to bring in cover.

The Blackpool boss is down on numbers with Paul Rachubka joining Matt Gilks in the treatment room and youngster Mark Halstead injured while on loan to Kettering.

Holloway has been given permission by the Premier League to find cover for current number one Richard Kingson.

Scotland Under 19 international Chris Kettings was on the bench on Saturday but Holloway is keen to bring in a more experienced campaigner ahead of the home match against Tottenham a week on Tuesday.

Holloway has been offered one of Spurs’ goalkeepers, believed to be Ben Alnwick, but under Premier League rules he could not be named in a squad to face his parent club.

Blackburn prospect Frank Fielding is another name in the frame but Holloway claims Rovers want him to start and he is reluctant to drop Kingson.

Holloway said: “It is very difficult to get someone as we are finding out. But we will be cracking on and see if we can convince a club to loan us a player to either sit on the bench or go in our team.

“If he is too young how can I put him above Richard Kingson?

“I could have had a goalkeeper from Tottenham but we play Tottenham on Tuesday. So what is the point of taking him?

“We would be in the same boat. What can I do?”