Holloway looking for cup boost

Last updated : 24 August 2010 By INOIT

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway hopes an outing in the Carling Cup will provide him and his squad with a chance to take stock after an interesting start to their Barclays Premier League season.

After routing Wigan 4-0 on the opening day of the season the Seasiders were brought crashing back down to earth as they were drubbed 6-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

There may not be much time to work on putting things right ahead of the trip to League One MK Dons but a cup tie may just provide Holloway and his players with some time to reflect."We were a bit disjointed against Arsenal but that is because of how good they were," said the Blackpool boss.

"No matter what happens, I have to try to pick these boys up and give them as much help as I can tactically."I could not do anything about it on the day but hopefully I can work on that on the training ground after watching the DVD and working with the analyst to get some bits for the lads to try to help them."Maybe we will have a lot of tough Monday mornings after the Saturday, but we did not launch into horrible tackles, we tried to get it and pass it ourselves - although we need to sharpen up.

I have got plenty of work because we have got another game on Tuesday. We have to concentrate on whatever we can do and keep trying to do it as best we can - and we are never going to stop."

Blackpool will be without suspended defender Ian Evatt for the trip to MK Dons in the second round of the Carling Cup.He was sent off in Saturday's 6-0 Barclays Premier League thrashing by Arsenal and serves a one-match ban.

Israeli defender Dekel Keinan could be given his first start after coming on as a substitute against the Gunners and Brett Ormerod is expected to come back into the side if boss Ian Holloway opts for a more attacking line-up.

Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is sidelined after having an operation on his knee, as is striker Jason Euell.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Blackpool have won three and lost two of the five competitive meetings they have had with Milton Keynes Dons.

• They have never met in the League Cup.

• Their most recent clash was a second-round tie in the 2006 FA Cup, which Blackpool won 2-0 in Milton Keynes.

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MK Dons

• Milton Keynes, who put out Dagenham in the first round, are aiming to reach the third round for the first time since 2006/07.

• The Dons are facing Premier League opposition in the League Cup for the first time since losing 5-0 to Tottenham in the third round in 2006.

Blackpool

• Blackpool are entering the League Cup at the second-round stage for the first time since 1977.

• The 1962 semi-finalists were last knocked out by lower league opposition in the season before last, when League Two Macclesfield beat them 2-0 in the first round.

• Ian Holloway's side are looking for a place in the third round for the second season running, having beaten Wigan at this stage, before losing to Stoke last year.

Source: PA