United and Spurs trips hold no fears for Holloway

HIS side may have to travel to White Hart Lane and Old Trafford before the end of the season but Ian Holloway bizarrely believes the Seasiders’ run-in is preferable to those of their rivals in the Barclays Premier League relegation battle.

Blackpool could have given their survival bid a major boost on Saturday with victory over Stoke at Bloomfield Road but were held to a 0-0 draw, ensuring they remain firmly in the scrap with three matches left to play.

Holloway’s team take on Bolton in their final home game between trips to Tottenham and Manchester United, and the manager said: “I think the run-in is vital, in terms of who we have got compared to who other people have got.

“If we had teams like Wolves or West Ham at home or away — I’d much rather take these ones.

“It might sound crazy, but our fans will be right up for Tottenham away and Manchester United away, and we have got Bolton here.

“When you look at those games — who knows? There are a lot of games you wouldn’t have given us a chance in this year, but we’ve managed to produce things.”

In the reverse fixtures earlier this season, Blackpool defeated Tottenham 3-1, drew 2-2 at Bolton and were 2-0 up against United only to eventually go down 3-2.

The Seasiders’ have certainly caught plenty of people by surprise in their maiden Premier League campaign and although it may yet end with a return to the npower Championship, Holloway is delighted to have taken the club’s fans on what has been a remarkable journey.

“We’ve created a monster,” Holloway said. “That’s what you do when you give somebody their dreams. It’s all in our hands and we could shatter their dreams, but if we do stay up, how hard is next season going to be, to give it to them again?

“If we go down, we’ll have to try and come up again, otherwise I’m not as good as I was the year before.

“But this is football, this is what it is all about.

“For the people of the area, I don’t think they have ever had such a wonderful uplift and they thoroughly deserve it.

“They have stuck with us and they sing their hearts out everywhere they go.”

Stoke boss Tony Pulis feels Blackpool’s supporters will be vital to their chances of beating the drop.

“It is a tough place to come to and they give everything,” Pulis said.

“I think their supporters are fantastic. They have one home game left, so they have to make sure they turn up and really take the roof off for Ian to give the club the best opportunity it can have.”

Meanwhile, Blackpool yesterday unveiled a statue of club legend Jimmy Armfield at Bloomfield Road, 40 years after he made his final appearance for them.

Armfield played over 600 games for the Seasiders between 1954 and 1971, as well as winning 43 England caps.

“It’s a proud moment for everyone at the club,” Holloway said.

“It’s just great and that is my favourite bit about the whole club — the fans revere their old players, and quite rightly so.

“We’ve had some fantastic players and I’ve given them some half-decent ones, who I think in 40 years’ time might be revered themselves.

“But Jimmy is a gentleman, a wonderful ambassador for the game and to go through your life playing for one football club is no mean achievement, as well as playing for your country.”