Blackpool manager Ian Holloway dedicated his side's win at Newcastle to youth coach Gary Parkinson, who is in hospital after suffering a stroke.

The Tangerines took the lead late in a disjointed first half, before a late DJ Campbell goal sealed the victory.

And Holloway said: "We rode our luck with some fantastic saves from Matt Gilks, but some of that was the best I've seen from my boys.

"That was for one of our coaches, Parky, who's really ill at the moment."

Blackpool's players also showed support for Parkinson, who suffered the stroke on Friday, holding up a T-shirt with his name on after Charlie Adam's penalty and Campbell's late goal.

"I just want to say to his wife and family we are all giving him our love and that was for him," added Holloway.

However, Holloway admitted that his side rode their luck at times, especially in the second half when keeper Gilks was called upon to make a series of saves.

606: DEBATE I thought Blackpool we're a lot better than us in the first half and in the end got the win they deserved. Well done lads TheMightyToon

"They keep amazing me really with hunger and desire and I'm bursting with pride at the moment," stated Holloway.

"I can't praise the keeper enough he's been outstanding. The save with his feet at the end [from Andy Carroll] was outstanding."

For Holloway's counterpart Chris Hughton there was only frustration as he reflected on a performance he believed similar in quality to the one that brought a 6-0 victory against Aston Villa in Newcastle's last home game.

"We certainly created enough good chances to win a couple of matches," Hughton lamented.

"There were a similar number of chances to the game against Villa, but we weren't able to put them away.

"I can't fault the commitment of my players, we just didn't have enough fortune or quality and came up against a very good keeper.

"It's a defeat we didn't deserve, but we were at home and we don't like losing points at home."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version