Blackpool

Mid-season report: Blackpool

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 02 January 2012

Blackpool have adapted well to life back in the Championship this season. Here is Sports Mole's take on how Ian Holloway's side have fared in the division.

After the disappointment of relegation from the Premier League last season, it was always going to be a difficult task for Blackpool boss Ian Holloway to raise his players.

The club have responded in impressive style, however, after losing star player Charlie Adam in the summer.

Sports Mole takes a look at how Blackpool have fared with life back in the Championship.

August

Holloway's side got off to the best possible start in the Championship with a 1-0 win away at Hull, while a Kevin Phillips double secured all three points against Peterborough.

The club did exit the Carling Cup, however, and lost out to Derby before taking points off Brighton in a pulsating 2-2 draw late in the month. August ended with a point at Palace, with new man Phillips proving an astute signing with a series of key goals.

September

The club continued their solid form into September with victory over Ipswich, but they dropped points at home to Cardiff before losing out to a last-minute strike at Portsmouth.

A late Keith Southern effort ended the month with a point at Coventry as Holloway's side showed signs that they could be in the play-off picture come the end of the season.

October

October got off to the best possible start for the club with a thumping 5-0 win over Bristol City, with new boy Jonjo Shelvey grabbing a goal after joining on loan from Liverpool.

They were brought down to earth at West Ham, however, with a 4-0 loss. A late Thomas Ince double secured the points against Doncaster mid-way through the month.

October ended in disappointment with successive defeats to Nottingham Forest and Burnley, but Shelvey's form showed signs of encouragement.

November

November brought their most impressive result of the season, a 5-0 win away at Leeds with Shelvey grabbing a hattrick.

The result was followed up with a 1-0 win over Blackpool, while draws with Middlesbrough and Birmingham kept them in the play-off picture despite losing to Leicester late in the month.

December

December began with victory over Reading, while successive draws against Southampton and Watford kept the side in touch at the top end of the league.

Matt Phillips struck a hattrick against Barnsley on Boxing Day to record an impressive 3-1 win, leaving the club one place and one point outside of the top six at the mid-point of the season.