Ollie delighted with win

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway took the win after seeing his Blackpool side dominate but only score once against Birmingham at Bloomfield Road.

The only goal of the Championship semi-final first leg clash came on the stroke of half-time after Tom Ince's shot was deflected in by Curtis Davies.

Holloway was not upset that his side could not score more ahead of the second leg at St Andrew's next Wednesday.

Asked if there was a degree of frustration about the victory, the Blackpool boss told Sky Sports: "No, I am absolutely delighted with the way that we played under pressure - everybody's under pressure in these games and I want to try and play the brand of football that we do.

"It was going to be tough against a really good team and whatever happens it is only half-time.

Merited more

"Unfortunately we have only got one goal, but our play merited more than that but that's all you can ask.

"So we've got to go down there, it's half time, we've got a goal advantage and let's see if we can impose our game on them, but it's going to be tough.

"But I'm delighted tonight, I thought we were absolutely terrific."

He denied his team were now the favourites to get through to the final at Wembley where they could face West Ham, who won 2-0 in the other semi-final first leg at Cardiff on Thursday.

"No, not at all, there's no favourites, West Ham aren't favourites, that's being disrespectful to everybody else, I don't think we are at all," said Holloway.

"It's a very good performance, that's all you can do."