Super Seasiders silence Holloway
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway could barely put into words how pleased he was with his team after their triumph over Tottenham this evening.
The Seasiders pulled off an impressive 3-1 victory at Bloomfield Road to move up to 12th in the Barclays Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone.
Their captain Charlie Adam - who so nearly joined Spurs in January - opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute after Sebastien Bassong had fouled DJ Campbell in the box.
Campbell then netted his ninth goal of the season a minute before the interval and substitute Brett Ormerod slotted in a third with 10 minutes remaining, rendering Roman Pavlyuchenko's effort at the death a mere consolation.
The result was remarkable not only in that it brought Tottenham back down to earth after their famous Champions League win against AC Milan last week, but also because the visitors had a host of opportunities to score over the course of the 90 minutes.
A couple of goal-line clearances and some superb saves by goalkeeper Richard Kingson kept Spurs out until just before the final whistle, though, as Blackpool secured three points Holloway felt they richly deserved.
"I don't think there is a word that has been written, printed or ever produced in the dictionary that I can use for how pleased I am," Holloway said.
"For all those scenarios that could have happened, and in the second half, looked like they were going to happen, and how depressed I would have been if they had gone on and taken a few more of their chances, I still don't believe my boys would have deserved that.
"I don't think we got what we deserved against Manchester City or Manchester United here and it looked like Tottenham were going to be too good for us, but we got the third goal at an absolutely vital time.
"I'd like to say thank you to all my lads, the new ones and the old ones - to Brett, because no-one deserves it more than him.
"It was a fantastic night for everyone connected with the club."
He added: "Does that make us better than AC Milan? I don't think so! But does that make up for some of the things that have happened recently? Probably."
With 11 games to go in their maiden Premier League campaign, Blackpool have given themselves a real chance of beating the drop, although Holloway believes they will need more than their current tally of 32 points to guarantee survival.
"What my lads are doing and the gaps they are bridging at this level from where we should be is just phenomenal," Holloway said.
"Last season 32 points would have kept us up but we know we are going to need at least a few more, so let's get on with what we have to do next, which is Wolves away."
Harry Redknapp insisted Tottenham were not suffering a hangover from Milan but the manager was heavily critical of their profligacy in front goal.
"We gave a penalty away under no pressure because of a scandalous challenge and then after that we can't convert chance after chance," Redknapp said.
"In the second half, it was incredible watching it - missing chances from four or five yards like it was going out of fashion.
"You expect when you have got good strikers who are goalscorers to stick them in.
"There are balls dropping onto their heads and we are waiting for them to head it into the goal from five yards out and they are not scoring.
"It was just unreal, but that's just how it goes - full credit to Blackpool, they have done fantastic.
"What they have done here has just been absolutely amazing. It must be great for them and it is a big scalp for them, beating a club like Tottenham.
"One goal would have changed the game around, no doubt about that.
"If it had gone to 2-1, it would have changed attitudes. We just needed a goal, but we kept missing them."