Blackpool manager Ian Holloway insisted that Saturday’s 6-0 scoreline was hugely flattering to his side and that the Blues played as well as anyone his top of the table team has faced so far this season. The Tangerines boss is confident that Town will do well during 2012/13.
Holloway said: "Obviously I’ll take that but you can’t be false about it. I think that’s as good as anybody’s played against us, ironically. They probably caused us more problems than others.
"The own goal, Cresswell didn’t deserve that, he was actually worried about Kevin Phillips, he got in the right position and unfortunately for him it went in.”
The Seasiders manager felt the goals and their timing came changed the complexion of the match: "I think the big difference were the goals and when we got them.
"I thought [Thomas Ince’s] first one was quite sublime, brilliant. Out of nothing as well. He had a little shimmy and ‘Bang!’ before you know it, it’s in.
"I felt sorry for them because before you knew it they were picking the ball out of their net three times. I think Incey’s made that difference. He’s created three, he’s scored two and he’s completely on fire at the moment. Hopefully that fire won’t go out.”
The Bristolian says he expects Town and Paul Jewell to have a good campaign despite Saturday’s result: "I think Paul’s going to have a good season. They look a really good side. They look fresh, they look young.
"That’s what happens sometimes. Once the third goal goes in it’s very difficult to get your momentum back. But on the whole, that is never, ever the scoreline it should have been and I know that.
"He didn’t deserve that, his lads didn’t deserve that. You’ve got to keep believing. That’s as sharp a team as I’ve seen for quite a while.
"They’re flowing, the reports we’d had were really good. They should have won their first game, they unfortunately didn’t. The second game, they were excellent and won 1-0.
"We knew how tough it was going to be but we just got the breaks at the right time. I hope that continues from now until the end of the season.
"Good luck to Jewelly, I really like him, he’s a fantastic manager and I’ll take that all day long. Very, very flattering and that wasn’t ever what it should have been, in my opinion.”
Holloway says he’s not concerned that displays like Saturday’s will see Premier League clubs moving in for Ince: "I’m not worried about Incey at all. I think his dad’s honest appraisal of where he is is something I will be very thankful for.
"His dad’s made it right to the top and I believe his boy’s going to, but you’ve got to learn your trade. I think [Paul Ince] is totally convinced he’s in the right place to develop.”
What sort of message does a result like that send to the rest of the Championship? "It sends out a message that we were very fortunate on the day to do that.
"There isn’t anything else I could say. Were we that much better than them? Maybe our finishing, yes.
"If they’d have got one of those goals at a certain time, if they had scored the third goal in the game, that might have been us in trouble. It’s that close at this time of the year.
"I’m glad it’s gone our way but that shouldn’t raise anybody’s expectations or hopes about us. We’re still Blackpool. But I like what we do and I like the way we do it and hopefully my lads will gain a bit of confidence.”