Tuesday, 14 February 2012 23:49
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Ian Holloway: Relishing the Championship run-in with his in-form side
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is relishing the run-in in the Championship, while Dean Saunders delivered a few home truths to his Doncaster side.
Two goals from Gary Taylor-Fletcher and on-loan striker Novan Dicko's first goal for the Tangerines moved Holloway's in-form side up to fourth in the Championship.El-Hadji Diouf's cheeky penalty had made it 2-1 just before half-time, but Blackpool were not to be denied victory and stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions to send Rovers bottom.The Seasiders are firmly in the mix for an immediate return to the top flight and Holloway is relishing the challenge of another push for promotion.Holloway said: "We've got a long run to go, it's going to be a hell of a gallop isn't it? There isn't a bad team in this division and Donny certainly aren't a bad team. I was very impressed with the way they kept going and I think the scoreline flattered us in the end."I didn't like 2011 at all. 2010 was magnificent, but 2011 was absolutely forgettable I'm afraid and ended in the biggest disappointment of my life."We've dusted ourselves down, I felt a bit sorry for myself for a while but we've got the bit between our teeth and I don't know what my best team is at the minute I have to say, which is a nice situation to be in."Gilks praiseHolloway admitted his side were not at their best and was particularly grateful for an outstanding save from goalkeeper Matt Gilks to deny Martin Woods an equaliser just after half-time.Holloway said: "I was pleased with parts (of the performance), but I'm very displeased with a certain part of it after we went 2-0 up and that's what we've got to learn."You can't take your foot of the gas, I thought we stopped closing people down, we stopped pressing, like the game plan was, then we made it really difficult."The fourth goal in the game was absolutely vital. It needed my goalie to make as good a save as Gordon Banks made. If that would have gone in it would have gone in it would have been a totally different scoreline at the end I think. If they'd got it back to 2-2 I would not have fancied our chances."Coventry's late winner against Leeds ensured Doncaster dropped to the foot of the table and Rovers chief Saunders has called on his players to battle for survival."We missed chance after chance and the only consolation is they (Blackpool) score goals against everybody," said Saunders."I've just said to the players that we're in a relegation battle and we've got to wake up and roll up our sleeves and fight for every point. You've got to earn the right to play."Read more http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7522389/
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