Saints dump out Seasiders

08 January 2011 18:30
Ian Holloway sent his Blackpool reserves on FA Cup duty and watched them tumble out at the hands of Southampton, who won 2-0. In a third-round shock of sorts, League One Saints overcame top-flight opposition thanks to second-half goals from Lee Barnard and Guly Do Prado. But Holloway had virtually written off his side's chances in the competition beforehand, and made nine changes to his starting line-up with half the youth team making up the bench. Holloway makes no bones about the fact survival in the Premier League is his sole focus, so his established stars did not even make the trip south. In fairness to the Seasiders boss, it says everything about their recent achievements that their squad looks so lightweight even when compared to a third-tier side, who made eight changes themselves but still managed to field a line-up of first-team regulars. All Holloway wanted to see was his side give a good account of themselves and for the most part they did, especially in the second half, but Saints ultimately proved too strong.

Source: PA