Holloway hails winning effort

12 December 2010 08:00

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway spoke of his pride after his side secured their sixth Barclays Premier League win of the season.

Former Leicester striker DJ Campbell's third goal for the club in the 48th minute was enough to secure a 1-0 victory against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Blackpool have 22 points on the board already and Holloway said: "Someone had us down for only 10 (points) after 38 games. Bit of a laughing stock we were going to be. 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."

He added: "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."

The winner came about after a sweeping move involving Charlie Adam and Luke Varney, with Campbell finding the net with a deft finish.

Holloway has mixed up Blackpool's training schedule with bad weather hitting the north-west coast - their home game with Manchester United was postponed last weekend - and it paid dividends.

He said: "We have been in the casino, been in the gym and on the beach. We were there on Thursday. It was brilliant. You have got to adapt.

"We had a poker tournament and the lads were given £20 each to see who was the champion. We gave a lesson to the ones who don't play.

"The boys were looked after and our goalie fell asleep. I don't think he likes cards. Ian Evatt was the winner. He must have had a mis-spent youth."

Source: PA