Holloway relishing challenges ahead

01 November 2010 09:00

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway insists there is no danger of his enthusiasm waning despite back-to-back defeats slowing their impressive start to the season.

The Seasiders go into tonight's clash with fellow Barclays Premier League new boys West Brom at Bloomfield Road aiming to bounce back from last weekend's 2-0 loss at Birmingham, which followed a 3-2 reverse at home to Manchester City.

"We've already been beaten 4-0 (at Stamford Bridge), we've been beaten 6-0 (at the Emirates) and I can tell you how embarrassed I was stood on the side and how worlds apart those players were from my players," he said. "Yet we've still kept coming back. I haven't lost my enthusiasm - it's growing all the time."

The Baggies, who will go above Manchester City and into fourth with a win, beat Blackpool 3-2 home and away in the Championship last term, but Holloway says that fact will not play on his players' minds ahead of tonight's encounter.

"There's nothing to fear - it's just can we get that win?" said the 47-year-old, who gave his players a few days off last week to "top up the enthusiasm".

"We'll have to earn it as there are no easy games and this is going to be one of the ones we're really looking forward to against a team that are playing out of their skin, exceeding all expectations apart from those they had themselves.

"They'll probably fancy it because they beat us here last year."

A win for Blackpool would be their first at home this season, their three successes so far having all come on their travels.

"That would be 13 points and that'll put us two points behind West Brom," said Holloway.

"That would definitely shock a few people. They'd probably think the table was upside down."

Source: PA