Holloway slams 'strange' decisions

26 September 2010 08:30

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway fears he could be in disciplinary trouble for railing at referee Mike Dean after his side's last-gasp loss to Blackburn.

The Seasiders were denied a point in a compelling Barclays Premier League derby when Brett Emerton struck a Blackburn winner four minutes into injury time at Bloomfield Road. Holloway felt there was a suspicion of offside and that Gary Taylor-Fletcher was fouled in the build-up to the goal.

He claimed overlooking the incidents were among several questionable decisions by Dean and he said: "I thought the referee had a poor game and he is going to report me for what I said to him in the tunnel. "I can't believe what he saw. I thought there was some unbelievably strange decisions out there."

Holloway continued: "I waited for him in the tunnel. Never mind, I have got to learn and I should know better - but it is ridiculous."

Charlie Adam inexplicably headed into his own goal after 20 minutes though substitute Matt Phillips equalised after 85 minutes. It was just reward for a strong spell of pressure from the home side, in which Paul Robinson also made two good saves, but Rovers had the final say.

Holloway added: "In life sometimes you don't get what you deserve, but all I can do is keep monitoring the level of our performance and I was absolutely delighted with that. To play at well against Blackburn Rovers I'm bursting with pride. Manchester City didn't cause them many problems but my side did."

Holloway's mood at the final whistle contrasted with that of opposite number Sam Allardyce, who was ecstatic when Emerton struck.

Allardyce said: "You know there is no time for the opposition to come back then. It was our most difficult period of the game because they were right up for it. We were coping with everything they threw at us but then they got the goal and that lifted them.

"They started throwing more and more people forward to get the winner and left more and more spaces at the back. In this league counter-attacking football is a major part of your armoury and we caught them on the break.

"Brett Emerton came up with an outstanding finish and that was it, we had won 2-1. We were fortunate with the first goal but after that we were comfortable. We have got a very valuable three points and are very pleased to get our first away win."

Source: PA