Blackpool vs Chelsea FC preview - Holloway enjoying Premier League life

Posted Monday, March 07, 2011 by PA

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists he is still loving his first season of top-flight management - even if it has left him looking "haggard and jaded".

The Seasiders, who were widely tipped to finish bottom of the Barclays Premier League following their promotion from the Championship last summer, made an impressive start to the 2010-11 campaign and at the turn of the year sat comfortably in mid-table.

Their form has stuttered somewhat since January 1, with only two wins - albeit against Liverpool and Tottenham - recorded from 11 fixtures.

Currently they are hovering just above the relegation zone, but with 10 games to go, remain very much in contention to beat the drop.

They host champions Chelsea, who hammered them 4-0 at Stamford Bridge back in September, on Monday.

There have been plenty of highs and lows for Blackpool in the intervening months and Holloway has described the experience as a "scary" rollercoaster ride - but one which he continues to enjoy as much as ever.

"We've had almost a full season in the Premier League," Holloway said.

"I look haggard and jaded but I'm loving every minute of it. It has been absolutely fantastic and I'm proud of how we've tried to acquit ourselves."

Holloway believes Blackpool are a better side now than the one that was beaten so comprehensively by Chelsea in London.

"We certainly cannot give them the space in behind us like we did in that first game," Holloway said.

"In the second half we sorted it out a bit, but in the first half they absolutely passed it around us.

"We were too high up the pitch, they played through us and it was a field day for them. But I think we have improved since, so let's see how we can get on."

The Tangerines will be without their top-scorer DJ Campbell and captain Charlie Adam for the contest at Bloomfield Road.

Campbell begins a three-match suspension after he was sent off in the 4-0 defeat at Wolves last Saturday, while Adam serves the second of his two-game ban for picking up 10 yellow cards this season.

Defender Stephen Crainey, who has not made a first-team appearance since January 22 due to an ankle injury, is in line to return against the Blues and midfielder Elliot Grandin, absent for the last two games with a hamstring problem, has an outside chance of being involved.

However, the match will come too soon for Gary Taylor-Fletcher (hamstring) and Matt Gilks (knee).

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists Fernando Torres was "born to score" and is on the brink of starting to repay his £50million transfer fee.

Torres has flopped in front of goal since making his record-breaking move from Liverpool, the Spain star missing a hatful of chances to open his account across his four games for the Blues.

Asked how he would feel if Torres' goal drought continued until the end of the season, the Italian said: "It is impossible, because he will score.

"He will score, sure, because Torres was born to score."

One man who might be secretly hoping Torres continues to flounder is Salomon Kalou, who has arguably been the player to suffer most from the Spaniard's arrival.

Kalou has started just once since then - when Torres was cup-tied - and has admitted he will consider his future at the end of the season if his situation does not improve.

"It's been difficult watching from the sidelines these past few weeks," said Kalou, whose contract expires in the summer of 2012.

"If an opportunity doesn't come, that's when you sit down at the end of the season and think about it.

"It has to be something you're doing for the good of your own career.

"You don't make any decisions by rushing them."

For now, Kalou is focused on helping Chelsea try to win the Champions League and stage a sensational comeback in the Barclays Premier League title race.

The forward is one of several Blues players who believe the huge gap to Manchester United, beaten at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, is not insurmountable.

Manager Ancelotti, who has previously all but written off his side's chances, said ahead of Monday's trip to Blackpool: "If some players think that we can win the title, I think that it's a good idea because this can give them good motivation.

"Man United can lose the title.

"Compared to us, Arsenal is closer to them, and maybe they can have more possibility to reach first place.

"For us, it's very difficult to think this but obviously we want to win all the games that remain until the end of the season.

"We reached fourth place and we want to maintain this and, if possible, to improve this."