Holloway Blasts Britton & Beattie

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway blasted Swansea City duo Leon Britton and Craig Beattie for 'playacting' in Saturday's 0-0 stalemate at the Liberty Stadium.

While the vast majority of the 14,000 at the Liberty Stadium thought we should have got a stonewall penalty for a challenge on Craig Beattie by Charlie Adam, Holloway thought he dived to get a first-half spot kick.

The former Plymouth Argyle manager also believed most of the Swans' players went down too easily to win free-kicks in a rant after a game where his side were lucky to get a point after a dominant display from the home side.

Holloway said:

'My players never dive,but I think some foreign players have taught our lot how to do it.

'You have to stay on your feet, but it seems as though you go down and you get a free-kick.

'I don't like football like that. Football's a man's game and I think it's about challenging — I like a good tackle as much as I like the best shot.

'I don't like players who fall over. Look at Britton. I know he's only little, but you've got to stay on your feet haven't you?

'Swansea appealed for a penalty but the ref was right not to give it. It was absolutely ridiculous — the lad should have been booked for feigning it.'

Holloway's criticisms continued, and the fact that Swansea City didn't give possession back after the Seasiders put the ball out of touch for a player to receive treatment also annoyed him:

'I had words with him about Swansea not giving the ball back. In this country when a team kicks it out, you give it back.

'We did it twice in the game and they did it once in the first half but then not in the second because there were only minutes left.

'Paulo said they had done it the first time and he wasn't happy that they didn't do it the second time. He said he would speak to his players, but my team would have done it twice. I wouldn't have had to remind them.'

Holloway did have something good to say about Sousa's side though, he added:

'I said to my players that we have just started on a journey but that Swansea are already two years down the line,'

'I think Paulo is carrying it on. He has probably made them a bit more resolute, but they are still calm on the ball and I think they are a very good side.

'We are trying to emulate them.'

Just be happy we are lacking in front of goal at the moment Ian, otherwise you would have never picked up a point on the weekend.

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