Ian Holloway dares to dream of a play-off position - 10 years on from Blackpool’s promotion to the Premier League

DJ Campbell celebrates his second goal against Nottingham Forest

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dipping into the archives to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

Ten years ago, boss Ian Holloway was in dreamland after Blackpool’s 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest...

Ian Holloway has admitted it would be “a dream beyond all dreams” if Pool could force their way into the play-offs and win them.

The Seasiders made it five victories from their last six games to keep the pressure on Swansea City and Leicester City in the race to finish in the top six.

After a Charlie Adam penalty and a DJ Campbell brace sank Nottingham Forest, Pool have two games to muscle their way into the end-of-season party – a thought which thrills the manager.

“It would be fantastic if we could get into the play-offs and it would be a dream beyond all dreams if we could win them,” he said.

“But I like to dream and we are still in there fighting, and kicking and spitting.

“We might have already dropped too many points but let’s fight and scrap for these last six on offer.”

Holloway felt victory against the third best team in the division was a fine riposte after the defeat at Newcastle United.

“We know we are sprinting for the line after last week’s disappointment against the team that are likely to be champions,” said the boss.

“Everybody was saying all sorts of things after the Newcastle game. But all I know is that we’ve made our fans dream that we might be able to beat a team like Newcastle, because of where we are in the table and the fact that we beat them at the start of the season.

“We have now managed to beat Nottingham Forest twice. I thought we were fortunate in the first game at their ground but on Saturday I don’t think we were fortunate.

“I thought the goals were fantastic and we played very well.”

The season now hinges on the final two games, at Peterborough on Saturday and against Bristol City on the final Sunday.

Pool are on 66 points, two points behind sixth-placed Swansea – who travel to Sheffield United next week – and four behind Leicester.

“I am just delighted that the season is still alive at this stage,” said Holloway, whose side now have 10 more points than last year.

“I’ve asked the lads ‘can we get to 72 points?’

“Sometimes I have seen 70 points get in the play-offs but I have hardly ever seen 69 get in. So one win won’t be enough. We have got to keep moving forward.

“At the moment we’ve got 66 and we’ve six more to play for. Where I went to school that makes 72 and we might need all of them and even then we still might not get in.”