Holloway satisfied with dour point

Ian Holloway has issued a rallying cry to Blackpool after the relegation-threatened club were held 0-0 by Stoke City on Saturday.

The Seasiders failed to take more than a point from their clash with Stoke at Bloomfield Road, in the process ending their run of scoring and conceding a goal in every home game this season.

But it could have been worse for Blackpool, with Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones somehow shooting wide of an open goal in the shadows of half-time after rounding Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks.

The draw leaves Blackpool perched perilously above the relegation places on goal difference, with a visit from Bolton Wanderers and away trips to Manchester United and Tottenham to come.

The ever bullish Holloway has called on his troops to defy the odds and save their skin at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane.

“We are better away from home, aren’t we?” Holloway told Sky Sports.

“It is Tottenham and Manchester United away, but we have given both of them a game and we are going to need to because our survival is going to hinge on it, so it’s all to play for.”

“I’ve asked for performances and that was as good as we have been defensively and it was against Stoke who are that good at set-plays.”

“I would like to congratulate Tony (Pulis, Stoke boss) for how well his team played and I thought it was a big, big ask for us today and I think that we handled it very well.”

“I was very, very pleased how we limited them to very few chances. Obviously Kenwyne Jones has missed a sitter at half-time but recently they have been going in.”

Pulis was pleased overall with the result of the game, one which leaves the Potters mid-table with 43 points and games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic to come.

“In the second half, I felt that we took control of the game, and the result is a fair result in a lot of respects,” the Stoke manager said.

“It was an honest game with a lot of people having a go and plenty of effort.”

“Blackpool are a really committed team and they make you play for every pass and challenge, and they get men forward and attack you on both sides of the pitch.”

“I felt that we were a little bit unlucky not to get the three points but it was a good clean sheet, it was always going to be a difficult game for us.”