Hard work still to come, says Holloway

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway believes there is still hard work to do to maintain their English Premier League status, despite sitting ninth in the table.

Blackpool – just seven points behind champions Chelsea – travel to West Brom this on Saturday hoping for another three points, after their shock triumph over Liverpool on Wednesday clinched the side’s eighth season win.

But Holloway wants his side to push on and aim higher than just finishing the league on 40 points – the traditional benchmark to avoid relegation.

“If we get 40 points I then want 43, then 46 – however many and to keep going and get the maximum we can,” he said.

“I’ve looked up how many points people get towards the end and we need those points as quickly as we can. Four wins gives us 40 points and we’ve still got 18 games to do it.”

“We might easily slip up. Until its done, it’s not done, is it? Any bubble can burst and I don’t want this one to.”

Blackpool have been the surprise package this season and Holloway puts it down to his side’s brand of attacking football – something he hoped they would produce when they travel to the Hawthorns on Saturday.

“Teams don’t really attack at this level but we can’t do anything else,” he added.

“Last year we got up playing exciting attacking football. With this group it makes them believe they are better than they thought they were and lets hope it continues.”

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo stands in their way this Saturday and Holloway believes he will provide a stern test as Blackpool look to continue their good form.

“He’s a nice man, he’s got a very good squad and I’m sure he’ll be thinking where our weaknesses are,” he said.

“We try and keep going forward – he’ll know all about that.”

“It’s going to be an unbelievably tough game for us.”

With the January transfer window in full swing, midfielder and club captain Charlie Adam has been attracting interest and bids but – not for the first time this year – Holloway insisted he would not be leaving the club.

“Loads of people are interested in him. I don’t believe its right for him to move at the moment,” he said.

“I believe he’s better than the offers we’re getting and the clubs that are asking about him. It’s disgraceful.”

“I asked another manager about a 20-year-old and got quoted 2.5 million pounds. What does that make Charlie worth?”

While Holloway ruled out anyone leaving the club, he hinted some fresh faces may be arriving at Bloomfield Road during the mid-season window.

“I’ve told my chairman a list of names and it’s an ongoing situation,” he said. “There are all sorts of possibilities. We are looking for bargains but there’s not many of them around in the Premier League.”