Holloway: ‘Adam is Blackpool rock’

Bulgarian striker Berbatov has now scored 13 times in his last 10 appearances for United [Reuters]

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway praised the star performance of captain Charlie Adam despite seeing his team beaten after taking a 2-0 lead against Manchester United.

Holloway rode a rollercoaster as big as the ones the seaside town is famous for in the late 3-2 defeat, but he was still hopeful of keeping his best player.

Adam did not do his chances of moving to a bigger club any harm the day after Blackpool turned down a $6.3 miilion offer for the midfielder from Liverpool.

His corners set up both of Blackpool’s headed goals, scored by Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell, while he was at the heart of Blackpool’s frequent bursts forward, finding teammates with pinpoint passes.

“I believe he’s getting better, I believe he still loves the club and I believe he will play for one of these (big) clubs one day very very soon,” Holloway said.

“I know Charlie Adam will go down in folk history and I might even start making a statue to him myself – just give me penknife and a hammer and I’ll start carving it out of wood because I can’t afford a bronze one.”

The Seasiders led 2-0 at half time and could have gone three up shortly after the break on Tuesday night.

Driving seat

But a penalty decision did not go their way after a foul by Rafael da Silva, leaving Holloway to ponder what might have been after the result kept United unbeaten this season and in the driving seat for the English Premier League title.

United are now five points clear of Arsenal in second and 10 ahead of fourth-placed champions Chelsea.

The young fan holding a homemade “Charlie don’t go” poster is likely to be disappointed, although Holloway was hopeful Adam might stay with the club for a little bit longer.

“I can understand Charlie wanting to make a move and I can understand how he thinks four million pounds is a lot of money but at the end of the day life is about doing things together and we are a very well-run club,” Holloway said.

There were always going to be goals in the Lancashire seaside town where the hosts have scored and conceded in every match this season.

Unfortunately for Blackpool they seemed to tire and allowed Dimitar Berbatov to score twice and Javier Hernandez once in the second half, with Holloway hoping they could learn from the experience.

“We have the mentality that we can win even when we are 1-0 or 2-0 down,” said Berbatov, who took his tally to 20 for the season with 19 coming in the Premier League.

Aston Villa won 2-1 at Wigan Athletic in the night’s other match, with Villa manager Gerard Houllier believing the arrival of England striker Darren Bent has played a major role in his side’s resurgence.

Bent scored the winner on his debut against Manchester City on Saturday and was the main man again at Wigan despite not scoring.

Goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor – his first of the season in the Premier League – and Ashley Young put Villa 2-0 up and although James McCarthy got one back for Wigan it was too late to salvage a draw.

“Sometimes when you recruit a player it takes five or six games before he settles or scores a goal,” said Houllier, whose team are now six points clear of the relegation zone.

“Darren scored a vital goal against Manchester City and today I think he was very important in the offensive front.

“His movement is very good but when he doesn’t score, it is good if the others score and today Gabby and Ashley did.”