Point pleases Holloway

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was relieved his side could halt their run of five losses with a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.

The Seasiders had the chance to clinch the game late on when Villa’s Jean Makoun was dismissed, but Holloway said he was satisfied with his side’s fourth point in 2011.

“I suppose I’ll have to be happy (with a point). We had a bit of a nervous opening quarter of an hour,” he said.

“It was the first time we looked like that all season and they got an absolute classic counter-attacking goal.”

Holloway said his side put forward their usual aggressive tactics but were denied a winner by a stern Villa defence.

“We threw everything we had at them and they defended resolutely. Hopefully, we’ve seen a change of the tide. They broke away in the last minute and they didn’t score, which has been happening to us of late,” he said.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier agreed that referee Howard Webb’s decision to send off Makoun midway through the second half was the correct one.

“I don’t think my opinion (on the sending off) would change things,” the Frenchman joked.

“I think first of all the sending off was a reckless tackle. I know it was not malicious, I know it was not to hurt, but this one, his feet were off the ground. I know he got the ball, I know it was a good tackle but the rules are simple. When you have got your feet off the ground, it’s a direct red.”

“Obviously, 20-25 minutes, it’s a different game. Down to 10 men, you have to show different qualities. I’m pleased that we were resilient, we showed some resolute defending. We were disciplined, and I was very, very satisfied, very proud of the effort of the players because they really fought hard to keep the point.”