Pool end 2010 in the top half of the Premier League

30 December 2010 08:31
The promoted Seasiders have defied all pre-season predictions to more than make a good fist of life in the Barclays Premier League, and will end 2010 comfortably in the top half of the table with 25 points already banked following Tuesday's 2-0 win at Sunderland. DJ Campbell's double secured a fifth win of the season on the road as the Black Cats created a flurry of chances - 32 attempts on goal and 16 on target - but could not score. The win took the Seasiders to 25 points and lifted them into eighth place to leave their manager purring.Asked how much he has enjoyed the last year, Holloway said: "Yeah, we just don't want it to stop. Unfortunately, in a couple of days' time, it is going to be 2011. I don't want to go back to 2008 - that wasn't good - but 2010 has been an absolute belter because we have got a bit of a thing going and it is a nice fit and I am more than happy."He added: "Ask any one of our fans who are now driving home how they feel about the place and how they feel about their club and how my lads are trying to play."From the day I started, they didn't moan, they could see what I was trying to do. They want us to pass the ball, they want to be entertained for their money, and any time we didn't give them what they wanted, which is a proper result, they didn't moan at us, so it's a dream come true."Sunderland had only themselves to blame after creating more than enough chances to win the game, but failing to take any of them. That was partly due to goalkeeper Richard Kingson's stubbornness and some dogged defence, while Darren Bent was denied by the crossbar with a late free-kick.However, Bent, - now without a goal in five games - record signing Asamoah Gyan and the in-form Danny Welbeck were guilty of passing up a series of gilt-edged opportunities, and Blackpool took full advantage.Manager Steve Bruce was left bemused by what he had seen. He said: "I have never witnessed anything like that, not at this level, anyway - maybe when I was at school."There's nothing I can say. We absolutely hammered them and lost 2-0. I can't remember ever being involved in a Premier League game where we have had so many chances."It could have been 10, it could quite easily have been 10."The promoted Seasiders have defied all pre-season predictions to more than make a good fist of life in the Barclays Premier League, and will end 2010 comfortably in the top half of the table with 25 points already banked following Tuesday's 2-0 win at Sunderland.That has given them the firmest of foundations upon which to build, and while it has come as no surprise at all to Holloway, he is full of admiration for his players.He said: "I can't tell you how proud I am of them, and I can't tell you how protective I am of them. It's nice for Blackpool to get recognition, it's nice for people to say nice things about me, but it isn't about that, I am not doing it for that."I am doing it to try to help them improve in their careers, and I can't ask for anymore from any of them. That's what makes me proud because you have to decide when you are out of work, 'Why am I doing it?', and I was doing it for the wrong reasons."I am now doing it for total enjoyment, to try to help my lads play better than they have ever played in their lives and encourage them because I needed that when I couldn't get a job."

Source: FOOTYMAD