Ten-year anniversary of Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League: Ian Holloway mulls over deadline day drama as Keith Southern calls for improvement in away form

Over the coming weeks, The Gazette’s football writer Matt Scrafton will be dipping into the archives to bring you our reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

On this day 10 years ago, Ian Holloway discussed his transfer plans ahead of the final run-in...

Ian Holloway won’t drive himself crazy trying to strengthen his squad before today’s final transfer deadline.

The boss has until 5pm to make a loan signing – after that he cannot complete any further business until the end of the campaign.

DJ Campbell, Barry Bannan, Stephen Dobbie and Seamus Coleman are all on loan at Bloomfield Road.

But Holloway won’t be concerned if he doesn’t add to that figure come teatime.

“I’ll have a look at it but I don’t see me being able to bring in anyone I think is better than what I’ve already got,” he said.

“What I inherited when I came here was of a fantastic level and I’ve got them playing a way they are all enjoying.

“Even the new ones I’ve bought are finding it difficult to play better because of the balance we had and the way we’ve been practising to play all season.

“So the lads I’ve already got are a tough act to follow.

“I’m delighted how hard they have worked for me and they were great against Swansea the other night so let’s see what we can achieve from now on until the end of the season.”

Holloway added: “There is no huge gaping hole in the squad I need to fill. I’ve got people who can play in every area.

“There was only the right-back spot that was a problem because of Neal Eardley’s injury.”

Keith Southern, meanwhile, warned the Blackpool squad an improvement in away form is crucial if the Seasiders are to have any chance of breaking into the top six.

The club has claimed 11 home victories this term, one of the best records in the Championship.

But on their travels it has been a different story, with only three wins in 19 games.

Pool will travel to Holloway’s old club Plymouth on Saturday in the best of spirits after hammering Swansea 5-1.

And Southern says it is imperative to try and get a result against a Pilgrims side languishing second bottom in the division.

“If we are going to maintain a play-off push we are going to have to win a couple of away games. If we don’t we will slide down the league, it is as simple as that,” said the midfielder.

“The away form has been the most disappointing factor of the season and I can’t really put my finger on why.

“The pitches we play on away from home tend to be a lot better. I don’t know if we’re a little bit naïve away and we need that little bit of ruthlessness.

“There are a lot of good players in the dressing room but a lot of young lads too and they are learning all the time.

“But we’ve got this Plymouth game coming up so let’s go and win it.”

Victory over Swansea took the Seasiders to 54 points and guaranteed Championship football next season.

“The pressure is off in terms of relegation and the only pressure now should come from ourselves. We’ve got seven cup finals left and let’s see how many we can win,” added Southern.

“The Swansea game was great to play in and I think it’s as good as we’ve played all season. Everyone was delighted in the dressing room after the game.

“We felt we owed the club and the fans a performance after the previous three games, especially the first half on Saturday against Crystal Palace.

“We came out all guns blazing and what a superb effort. To play like we did in spells on that pitch takes some doing.

“The pitch is horrendous, let’s not make any bones about it. It is really poor. But I think we played a little bit more to the conditions.

“Last Saturday we had three little men up front and we tried to play but we couldn’t really get it going.

“But against Swansea we mixed our game up, passing it short and long, hitting Ben Burgess when we needed to, and won the second ball.

“You need to do that, to mix it up, because in this league you cannot be too predictable really.”

As for the play-off dream, 28-year-old Southern is old and wise enough not to get carried away.

“All I’ll say is that there is no pressure on us. We’re Blackpool. We were tipped to go down,” he said.

“The only pressure we’ve got is from ourselves and let’s have a real good go for the remainder of the season. But what’s pleasing is the way we are able to bounce back.

“We lost three games in a row in February to West Brom, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday but we’ve bounced back well.

“I think we showed our character against Palace on Saturday. Even though we were really poor first half, we came out fighting in the second period and we gave a real reaction. We carried that through to the Swansea game.

“We were up and at them from the word go and won our tackles and that was the key to victory.

“The first goal settled the nerves because we have conceded early in the last couple of games. Then the goals either side of half-time killed the game.

“Credit to our lads because Swansea are a superb side and there’s no doubt they’ll be in the play-offs. But we did a job on them and now we need to carry that into the Plymouth match and try and get that away win we’re after.”