Holloway looks for away day joy

Ian Holloway believes Blackpool’s Premier League fate will be decided in their clashes against Manchester United and Tottenham.

The Seasiders were held 0-0 by Stoke at Bloomfield Road on Saturday and remain just outside the bottom three on goal difference.

However, they have three games left of the campaign to try and secure their top-flight status.

Of those three, only one is at home against Bolton, while they face Manchester United and Tottenham away.

Challenge

And the pugnacious Holloway is ready for the challenge of facing the division’s bigger teams.

“We are better away from home aren’t we?” Holloway told Sky Sports.

“It is Tottenham and Manchester United away, but we have given both of them a game and we are going to need to because our survival is going to hinge on it, so it’s all to play for.”

Holloway had targeted the game against Stoke as a winnable fixture but their determination and spirit were a match for the Tangerines.

However, he could not hide his pride at the way his players dealt with the Potters’ unique style of play which has seen them reach the FA Cup final.

Shut out

Blackpool had scored and conceded in every home game before this one and Holloway was pleased they at least managed a shut-out before the end of term.

“I’ve asked for performances and that was as good as we have been defensively and it was against Stoke who are that good at set-plays.

“I would like to congratulate Tony Pulis for how well his team played and I thought it was a big, big ask for us today and I think that we handled it very well.

“I was very, very pleased how we limited them to very few chances. Obviously Kenwyne Jones has missed a sitter at half-time but recently they have been going in.”