Blackpool's Ian Holloway blames other games for drop

Boss Ian Holloway hailed Blackpool as they were relegated on the last day of the Premier League season but said their fate was sealed by earlier games.

Holloway's side lost 4-2 at Manchester United, sending them back down from the top flight after one season.

"It wasn't this game that cost us, it was one or two further back. I'm going to dread looking at them," he said.

"It boils down to 'were we as a club ready for this'? Probably not, but we gave it as good a shot as we could."

Blackpool fans suffered every conceivable emotion on a dramatic last day of the season, as their destiny changed direction several times as a result of events at Old Trafford and elsewhere.

"On another day, without the tension we might have won it," said Holloway, who saw his side come from a goal down to lead the newly crowned champions before two goals in quick succession - including an Ian Evatt own goal - condemned his side to the drop.

"When you see [Wayne] Rooney warming up, you think 'we'd better go for it' so I was getting my two strikers ready and blow me down, we put one in our own net.

"Well done to the other teams who did it today - it was very difficult for everyone and unfortunately we're one of the ones who went down.

"It's difficult to put it into words - it's been such a great trip but it just shows how cruel life can be."