Irvine defends Wallace celebration

01 December 2009 08:19
Billy Clarke, who became Ian Holloway's first signing in the summer after he was released by Ipswich, opened the scoring after just 27 seconds with a sweetly-struck shot from 25 yards.[LNB]The 21-year-old striker went on to hit the woodwork twice in the first half but the Seasiders could not make their dominance pay and Wallace punished them with a fine goal seven minutes before the break.[LNB]He was booked after he ran to the visiting supporters to celebrate and a steward appeared to get injured after being caught up in the ensuing melee, yet Irvine absolved his player of any blame.[LNB]He said: "It was a fantastic free-kick and absolutely top class from Ross.[LNB]"If we start to take celebration out of the game then it will be a poorer game.[LNB]"Ross ran over to our fans but I can't tell from here whether he stepped off the pitch or stayed on the pitch.[LNB]"But I certainly don't think that he was jumping over barriers to get to our supporters.[LNB]"Our supporters understandably reacted in a very excited way and I believe that a steward got injured, which I'm extremely sorry to hear.[LNB]"I hope he's okay but I don't think Ross did an awful lot wrong."[LNB]Preston deserved credit for grinding out a result after being outplayed for the majority of the first half by Holloway's vibrant side.[LNB]Irvine added: "We deserved a point. We got off to the worst possible start but full credit to the lads, they showed a lot of character, determination and courage to stay in the game at a time when it could have gone away from us.[LNB]"Gradually we worked our way back into it and deserved to come away with something."[LNB]The result lifted Blackpool into sixth spot but Holloway was left furious with the free-kick decision that allowed Wallace to fire Preston level.[LNB]Holloway said: "There was a blatant foul on Marcel Seip just beforehand and what he gave that free-kick for I do not know.[LNB]"But other than that, I thought we were fantastic and I thought it was a moral victory for Blackpool over Preston, even though there is a long way still to go this season.[LNB]"I'm very proud of my team, my ground, my pitch and the way we tried to play.[LNB]"If that's my first taste of this derby then I can't wait for a few more."[LNB]Holloway reserved special praise for Clarke, adding: "He's got fantastic talent and as long as he believes himself in the future then he'll have no worries.[LNB]"He's hungry, he wants to play and he's only 21, but I'm really pleased with my whole team."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk