Parkes still wary of drop threat

12 April 2009 09:54
Charlie Adam's first-half winner delighted over 5,000 Blackpool fans and put a huge dent in bitter rivals Preston's Championship play-off bid.[LNB]The on-loan Rangers midfielder collected possession 22 yards from goal and was given the time and space to drill a low left-footed shot in off a post.[LNB]The result took Blackpool's points tally to 50 but Parkes admits he is still worried about the grim prospect of sliding into League One.[LNB]"We're not safe - nowhere near," Parkes said.[LNB]"There are 15 points for other clubs to play for and until it's mathematically certain we can't be shutting down.[LNB]"Yes, it's three big points which have got us closer to what we need but we're not there yet."[LNB]Adam, 23, joined the Seasiders in February on loan until the end of the season and his goal prevented Preston recording a famous league double.[LNB]Not since the 1960/61 season have North End beaten Blackpool home and away in league combat but their 3-1 success at Bloomfield Road in November had raised the prospect of finally repeating that feat.[LNB]But with Adam biting into tackles in the middle of the park, and a fine defensive display limiting Preston to half-chances, Blackpool fully merited all three points.[LNB]"Our fans have something to rejoice about," added Parkes.[LNB]"We haven't been very good at home but hopefully this will make up for it.[LNB]"Charlie Adam had a good game and we were very strong in the middle of the park with Charlie and Keith Southern."[LNB]The result represented a large stride towards safety for the Seasiders but has done no favours for Preston, whose play-off hopes are fading fast.[LNB]North End carved out few genuine goalscoring opportunities and the disappointment etched across manager Alan Irvine's face said everything.[LNB]The Deepdale boss vowed not to give up on the race for a coveted play-off berth.[LNB]"We will keep going while we still have a chance of finishing in the play-offs," said Irvine.[LNB]"We have worked very hard this season to be in this position.[LNB]"We are now obviously relying on other people slipping up but I'm certainly not giving up, that's for sure."[LNB]Irvine admitted his side lacked quality and made poor decisions.[LNB]"We made many, many poor decisions," he said.[LNB]"Now we have to show character to come back from this."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk