Holloway rues poor goal

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was disappointed with the lone goal they conceded in their loss to Manchester City.

Holloway’s side impressed again on their travels at Eastlands on Saturday, and were more than up to the task as the English Premier League’s richest side met the poorest.

Adam Johnson’s deflected strike from distance in the first-half was all that separated the two sides but Holloway was not happy with the time on the ball afforded to the goal scorer.

“Unfortunately we let in a poor goal,” Holloway told Sky Sports.

“I’d rather have lost two-nil to a better goal than that. We should have blocked it, we have been blocking them but unfortunately it didn’t help our goalie at all.”

Holloway also believed his side lacked their attacking nature against Roberto Mancini’s side.

“If I’ve any qualms it’s the first half. We weren’t quite as positive as we normally are. It was more about the occasion. We spoke about that at half-time and second half I was much happier.”

The Blackpool boss was also quick to praise substitute Matt Phillips, who starred for the Bloomfield Road outfit.

Phillips – signed from Wycombe earlier this season – continually charged up the right wing, making it difficult for City’s expensive summer signing Aleksander Kolarov, who was later substituted.

“He’s a good lad who wants to improve. He’s joined our lads and I think he’s lucky because they’re great people who encourage him. What he did today was give the team belief. ”

“He wasn’t fearful and completely outran his man. There’ll be other games where other people will do a similar thing. Matty is blossoming and getting better.”

Blackpool’s efforts were evident in that Manchester City first-team coach David Platt said he was relieved to hear the final whistle.

A missed Carlos Tevez penalty and a host of wasted chances kept the counter-attacking Blackpool in the game up until the very last minute.

“We were relieved to get there at the final whistle,” Platt said.

“We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we created – I think we went into half-time having had 22 efforts on goal.”

“But unfortunately we didn’t manage to finish the game with that second goal and they came out and gave it a go.”

Platt paid tribute to Blackpool’s style of football as the newly promoted club continue to win fans for the way they approach the game.

“Full credit to Blackpool – I don’t think they would have changed the way they played even if it had been 2-0,” he said.

“They were happy to go forward and play in an expansive manner and leave players forward. That gives you a chance to get in behind and create opportunities of your own.”