Holloway banks on away days

Holloway: Staying up

Ian Holloway hopes Blackpool's impressive away form will snap them out of their mid-season malaise.

The Seasiders have undoubtedly introduced a refreshing energy and courage into the Premier League this term with their cavalier football.

It is this approach that has taken them up to 13th in the table with 28 points, giving them a real chance of claiming top-flight survival.

Ironically, while most promoted teams rely on their home form to bolster their survival hopes, Blackpool have found their best form on the road.

Three defeats from their last three games at home have only served to reinforce this, so the trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday is one that holds no fear.

Difficult

"It's definitely more difficult to play at home in this division, for us anyway, and the results have proven that," Holloway said.

"Nearly everybody in the Premier League is very good at blocking you away from home and then counter-attacking.

"If you look at the stats (against West Ham), we had 21 shots and they had 11 but unfortunately they scored three and we only got one.

"Our style is definitely counter-attacking, getting forward and having a go.

"I think people's home expectation against Blackpool puts pressure on their team to attack us and that will leave space for us.

"We're just finding it a little bit difficult at home at the moment."

Psychology

Indeed, with 14 games left to play this term, Holloway, who has become a master of psychology, knows he has to keep his players' minds on the task at hand.

But he is clearly immensely proud of their efforts and never tires of praising his courageous team.

He added: "What we've given ourselves is a great platform, with 28 points, to have a good crack at the last 14 games and try to get out of the sort of mid-season blues that newly-promoted clubs get in.

"It's all about our energy and staying positive and trying to enjoy these challenges. They're wonderful.

"I wrote every game on the board, and what we'd have given last year to have a chance to play these games, it doesn't matter whether we're in a disappointing run, what the boys have done already is absolutely tremendous."