Ian Holloway admits it will be difficult to cope against Chelsea without DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam.
Holloway missing Campbell and Adam for Chelsea clash
Ian Holloway has admitted it will be difficult to cope against Chelsea without the suspended DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam.
Campbell was shown a straight red card in the 4-0 defeat to Wolves at the weekend and will begin a three-match ban when Carlo Ancelotti's Blues visit Bloomfield Road next Monday.
Adam will also serve the second part of a two-match sentence and Holloway concedes the absence of the duo will leave a major hole.
However, the Blackpool manager has challenged his other players to raise their game and ensure the Seasiders bounce back from a heavy defeat at Molineux.
"We wouldn't have got promoted last season without Charlie and DJ, so no doubt we are going to miss them," Holloway told the
Blackpool Gazette.
"We'll just have to try to cope but we will have to play a lot better than we did at Wolves because it was stinking.
Bruised
"We won at Sunderland when Charlie was suspended but at Wolves I think we lacked his inspirational leadership and quality passing.
"However, we can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves. I certainly can't afford to get too down because if I don't stay strong and full of belief we won't get out of trouble.
"I am bruised and hurt but I have already bounced back."
Adam will return to contention for the away game against Blackburn on 19th March and defender Neal Eardley agrees it will be a relief when he is back.
"We needed someone like Charlie at Wolves," said Eardley. "To have him and DJ missing for the Chelsea game is a blow because they are real big players for us.
"DJ is our goal-getter and has scored a lot this season, but the other lads realise they must step up to the mark."
