Holloway braced for Sunday's Championship showdown between Blackpool and Bristol City
IAN Holloway expects Sunday's big Championship showdown between Blackpool and Bristol City to be the hardest 90 minutes of his life.
Former Bristol Rovers captain and manager Holloway is determined to become the first man to lead the Seasiders to the top flight in 40 years.
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Ian Holloway
But old foes City stand in the way of the Bristolian's ambition to gatecrash the play-offs.
Currently in sixth place, Blackpool are 90 minutes from booking their place in the play-offs, but defeat to City would hand Swansea an opportunity to leapfrog Holloway's side and claim the spot.
Swansea host Doncaster Rovers on the final day in the knowledge that they will regain sixth place if they win at the Liberty Stadium and Blackpool slip up.
The Seasiders have not played in the top flight since 1970, when Jimmy Armfield was manager, and Sunday's game will be watched by 12,500 sell-out crowd and screened live by Sky Sports.
Holloway, who has transformed Blackpool from relegation favourites to promotion candidates, said: "It would be magnificent if we can get back there after 40 years.
"But let's get this straight – we haven't done anything yet. This is going to be the hardest 90 minutes of our lives and we have to keep our feet on the ground.
"We've given ourselves a chance to do something and I want us to take this opportunity. But it isn't done yet and any one of our fans who thinks it is, well, they should stop celebrating and get real."
Given his affiliation with the blue half of Bristol's football divide, Holloway can expect no favours from arch-rivals City.
And he believes the appointment of Steve Coppell as manager will make the Robins even tougher opponents.
"Make no mistake, they will definitely be up for it," said Holloway. "Whenever a new manager comes in, there is a reaction, because the players want to impress.
"There is no way City are going to lay down and make life easy for us. They are going to make it as difficult as possible and we have to realise that and be ready for it.
"I'll relax if we're 3-0 up after 20 minutes, but I cannot imagine that happening."
7 Comments
by BLACKPOOL-BOMBER, NOTTINGHAM
Friday, April 30 2010, 11:48AM
“I can see why nobody put their name to this article as their level of fact checking is non-existent: Jimmy Armfield was not our manager in 1970 - he was still playing & captain at the time; he has in fact never managed Blackpool FC.
Hope we can meet Bristol City in the Premier League in two years time!”
by The Hedgehog©, Horfield
Thursday, April 29 2010, 3:53PM
“Sorry, Roger - you had your chance and you sacked him ;)
Incidentally, isn't a bit odd to have a Ciderhead from Horfield arguing with a Gashead from North Somerset?”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Thursday, April 29 2010, 1:14PM
“Thank you Ernie, very civil of you. Lets hope for an entertaining game.”
by eastville ernie, stapleton
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:41PM
“I wouldn't normally comment on here,but being a true Rovers supporter, a true blue Pirate,and not one these so called Gas idiots with cheap comments good luck to both sides on Sunday.”
by DCW, Brizzle
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:25PM
“I hate to rain on your fire Roger. But the games in Blackpool. Nice to see that were so important to you, even when we have nothing to play for. I guess the gash are so rubbish you will even cheer on a side managed by a relic from years gone by that jumped your sinking ship when he saw the writing on the wall.”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:15PM
“Rog, he won't be in Bristol. sorry son.
As for managing that shower in BS7, I expect he will aim higher than lower league football.”
by ROGER BARTON, SOMERSET.
Thursday, April 29 2010, 12:07PM
“Lovely to see Olly back in Bristol on Sunday. I will be viewing the match on SKY TV and hope tat Blackpool can turn the * * * * over. I also hope that one day in the not too distant future, he will return to the 'Gas' as manager again!”