Holloway enthused by replacements

12 November 2010 13:30
All eyes will be on Blackpool's team sheet for the 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 for the Tangerines manager the biggest talking point was how well his so-called fringe players acquitted themselves. Indeed, 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 with James Collins' header. Many of the players were late summer signings with little or no Premier League experience and Holloway argued they had waited more than long enough for a chance. He said: "I've got a fantastic problem. That's what I asked them to cause me, by being as good as the other team, if not better. 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. But unfortunately my other kids were doing so well I didn't want to change it."

Source: PA