Holloway on the attack as Blackpool continue rise up league table
Published:Considering West Bromwich Albion’s strong start to the season, Blackpool’s home game against last season’s Championship rivals could in no way be counted as a routine win.
But two red cards for West Brom left Blackpool with their best opportunity to register their first win in the top flight at Bloomfield Road since 1971, and Ian Holloway’s side took it to move into the top half of the Premier League.
The Premier League betting odds at the start of the season, Blackpool were 1/4 and West Brom 1/1 to be relegated, would have suggested that this game was a six pointer in the race to avoid relegation.
It may still be the case that these two clubs will be in and around the relegation area come next May but considering their current form, this could be the tightest relegation battle the Premier League will witness.
Blackpool are still odds on at 1/2 to be relegated while West Brom are as long as 5/1 to spend next season in the Championship.
Hull had 20 points after 10 games in the 2008/09 season, five more than West Brom have now and survived relegation by a single point.
Holloway’s side has reached 13 points after 10 games, two more than Derby’s total for the whole of the 2007/08 Premier League season, and the Tangerines boss has attacked those critics who suggested Blackpool would do well to better Derby.
“The lowest points ever, we aren’t going to be that team so shut up the lot of you, whoever wrote it,” said Holloway.
“I think we’ve got to improve, I think we’ll try to, but that’s 13 points in 10 games.
“They might be the only 13 points we get but you said we were only going to get 10.”
West Ham and Wigan are both 10/11 to be relegated after poor starts to the season. See the full Barclays Premier League football betting odds market here.
