Blackpool can match FA Cup glory days, says Holloway

Ian Holloway says his class of 2012 can stand shoulder to shoulder
with any of the club's famous names from the past as he prepares
Blackpool for their FA Cup replay at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

Blackpool's most famous player of all, Sir Stanley Matthews, was at the centre of the club's greatest achievement in 1953 when orchestrating their 4-3 FA Cup final win against Bolton.

But as the Seasiders head for a fourth-round replay at Hillsborough, Holloway insists his current crop, plus those who moved on in the summer, could one day be spoken of in the same breath.

Holloway, whose side snatched a replay thanks to Kevin Phillips' last-minute penalty at Bloomfield Road nine days ago, said: "I'm very proud of the will to win that we're getting again after all the disappointment of losing arguably some of the best players this club has ever had.

"Charlie (Adam), Vaughany (David Vaughan) and DJ (Campbell) - I would put them in the same list as some of the famous ones we've had before because getting to the Premier League and almost staying up with 20 minutes to go at Manchester United, they've got to be up there with some of the greats."

Blackpool, relegated last summer after one season in the Barclays Premier League, climbed up to fourth place in the npower Championship following Saturday's 3-1 at promotion rivals Cardiff.

"At the moment I'm loving what we're doing," said Holloway. "We've got something going, I have to say.

"Let's hope we have a belting year like 2010 and not a horrible one like 2011."

Substitute Phillips, 38, struck his fourth goal in five games in Saturday's comeback win at Cardiff, while another recent signing, Roman Bednar, also stepped off the bench.

Holloway added: "It shows we've come a bit of a way because Kevin Phillips has chosen us, Roman Bednar has chosen us.

"Everybody knows we don't pay the same as other people, but that speaks volumes for what we've got going here with our lads and I can't thank them enough."

Wednesday boss Gary Megson thinks his side's cup run is not a hindrance as he attempts to guide the club back to the Championship this season.

The Owls have maintained their promotion push and climbed up to second after Saturday's 2-1 home win over Yeovil.

Aldershot, Morecambe and West Ham have come unstuck against Wednesday in previous rounds and Megson said: "Each time we do ok in the cup it means we have to postpone a league game in a fixture list that's pretty packed anyway.

"There's two ways of looking at it. You're playing all the time and everybody's got that interest, and it's good financially. At the moment we're doing ok in terms of injuries."

Owls centre-half Rob Jones (ankle) will return from a four-game lay-off in place of cup-tied Miguel Llera.

Millwall turn their attention to their replay at promotion favourites Southampton - the two sides drew 1-1 at The Den - after Saturday's defeat at derby rivals West Ham left them hovering just above the relegation zone.

But midfielder Liam Trotter saw enough against the 10-man Hammers to suggest their fortunes will soon change.

"There's lots to be positive about," he said. "At 11 against 11 we were on top. West Ham only really looked to hit it to Carlton Cole and make it stick.

"We played the better football and I'm confident we can kick on and push up the league soon."

Saints boss Nigel Adkins will rest some of his key men with one eye on the promotion race, so teenagers Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Jack Stephens are set to be involved again.

PA