Ian Holloway to ditch defensive tactics after losing to Chelsea

They were touted as the Premier League whipping boys after securing a place in the upper echelons of English football, but with seven points from five games, Blackpool are anything but.

Ian Holloway’s Blackpool side may have been thumped 4-0 at the weekend, but their only two losses have come against top three sides in Chelsea and Arsenal.

Wins against relegation rivals Wigan and Newcastle, and a draw against Fulham sees Blackpool sit 9th in the Premier League table, but they are still odds on, 1/3, to be relegated.

Holloway turned to a defensive approach for the game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and after 41 minutes, Chelsea were 4-0 up prompting Holloway to suggest he will ditch the defensive tactics for a more attacking approach.

After 60 minutes Holloway brought on two strikers and his side managed to stop the Chelsea forwards from adding to their tally in the second half.

“I should have gone back [to our normal attacking system] earlier but when I went back to what we do the game was over by then,” said Holloway.

“I would have been silly to think we did not have to do something different against Chelsea but I think we would have lost no matter what we did.”

An attack minded approach could suggest Blackpool may be in for a tough ride defensively this season but in the three games where they’ve gained points, they’ve scored eight and conceded just two.

Blackpool host Blackburn on Saturday but that game is followed by a trip to Anfield and a home tie against Manchester City.

Home wins are key to staying in the division and if they can take four points from their next three games, the 1/3 available for them to be relegated will turn out to be very short.

Wigan are also odds on 4/5 to be relegated. See the latest Barclays Premier League football betting markets here.