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Pool gunning for top six
BIRTHDAY boy Ian Holloway reckons sixth-place in the Championship is "up for grabs".
Boosted by reaching the magic 50-point mark with 11 games to spare, the Blackpool boss believes any team in the chasing pack can force their way into the play-offs with a consistent run of results.
Holloway, who celebrates his 47th birthday today, won't predict whether his side can do it but the Pool boss does say that his players "owe it to themselves" to go for glory.
"Anything can happen now," said the manager, after midweek defeats for Cardiff and Sheffield United gave Pool's play-off chances a further boost ahead of tomorrow's visit to second-placed West Brom.
"I don't think Newcastle's wheels are going to come off. Their name is more or less stamped on top spot and the next four place are pretty much nailed on – but that sixth-place is still up for grabs.
"Look what happened to Cardiff last year (the Bluebirds missed out on the play-offs on goal difference). There could be an awful lot of teams fighting for that spot and whoever has the best run-in could gallop on and get it.
"But you have to be consistent and that's been our problem. Are we consistently good enough home and away to get a run of results to get us into the top six?
"We did it in League One. Can we do it again? The lads owe it to themselves to have a really good go at it and to stay as upbeat as they can, even if they have a bad game like they did at Barnsley the other week.
"We have to believe and to keep working hard because we know how tough the opposition is.
"The club that grabs sixth place will need to win seven, maybe eight, of their last 11 games. We'll find out whether we're capable of doing it over the next few weeks."
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE FRIDAY'S GAZETTE.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
