Blackpool are regretting the red card that DJ Campbell has got, which has put their survival chances in doubt. Campbell is banned for three games, starting with Monday's fixture against Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea.
"He's scored a lot of goals for us this season so he'll be a great loss," Eardley told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We're already missing Charlie [Adam - Blackpool captain] through suspension, so the other lads need to step up."
Blackpool striker DJ Campbell has made an apology for the red card he got against Wolves on Saturday.
With the Seasiders trailing 1-0 at Molineux, Campbell uncharacteristically lashed out at Richard Stearman, pushing the Wolves defender in the face.
The Tangerines forward was shown a straight red card and his side went on to lose 4-0 in the relegation clash.
To add to Ian Holloway’s troubles, Campbell will now start a three-match ban at a crucial time in the season.
Holloway described his forward's behaviour as "unacceptable", and the 29-year-old is sorry for his actions.
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has drawn a line over his public spat with Blackpool. Houllier and Holloway were involved in several verbal exchanges after Villa tried to buy Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam during the January transfer window and had two bids rejected.
Holloway claimed he was unhappy Villa had made their interest in Adam public while Houllier insisted the West Midlands club did everything through the right channels. But Houllier is now more concerned at trying to win against the Seasiders, who he predicts will avoid relegation this season.
Blackpool have been fined by the football association to the tune of £ 25,000. The Seasiders boss made 10 changes to the side that drew 2-2 against Everton at Bloomfield Road the Saturday before.
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had threatened to resign if the club were fined, later saying: "I'm the manager and I manage the players how I want."
The Seasiders have 14 days to decide whether to appeal against the fine.
Ian Holloway has defended his team selection for the FA cup that resulted in the team's elimination from the competition. "I'm delighted with my team and delighted with my club," said Holloway.
"To come to a place like this and make a game of it when I've had to pick that team because of the competition we are in week in, week out.
"I've tried to do things right for my club, and it's well done to Southampton," added the Blackpool boss.
Sunderland lost to Blackpool at home, despite having a great record at home. Asamoah Gyan, Darren Bent and Danny Welbeck all squandered good openings and visiting goalkeeper Richard Kingson made a number of excellent stops.
But Campbell shot home from Ian Evatt's headed flick to make it 1-0.
Bent hit the bar with a fine free-kick but Campbell added a second in injury time from Matt Phillips's low cross.
But Sunderland will be left scratching their heads at the result after creating enough chances to have won two games in a refreshingly open and frantic first period.
DJ Campbell scored an important goal to help Blackpool record a victory over Stoke city. The striker struck shortly after half-time to hand Ian Holloway's side all three points at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Ricardo Fuller crashing a dipping effort from 25 yards off the crossbar at one stage.
They started the second period sluggishly, though, and were punished when Campbell pounced to prod home from close range following good work by Luke Varney and Charlie Adam.
Richard Kingson says that he is interested in the Blackpool number one spot for goalkeepers. After joining the club in September, Kingson's chance arose after Gilks broke his kneecap on 13 November.
"Firstly, I wish Matthew a speedy recovery as we are all a family here," Kingson, 32, told BBC Sport.
"But it's perhaps the time for me to play and if I do well, maybe I'll become number one."
Since arriving in England three years ago, the goalkeeper who stood out at both this year's African Cup of Nations and World Cup has found his chances limited.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has said that he is frustated by Blackpool's display against Chelsea. The Tangerines went down 4-0 to the Blues with each goal coming inside the opening period before the visitors re-shaped after the interval.
Salomon Kalou opened the scoring after less than two minutes before a Florent Malouda double either side of Didier Drogba's strike put Chelsea in cruise control. Despite a drastic improvement after the break, Holloway believes the home side eased up their urgency and allowed Blackpool to see more of the ball.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson has sealed his free transfer to Blackpool. The Accra-born player is a free agent following his release by Wigan.
The move for the 32-year-old, who previously had a brief spell with Birmingham, is subject to work permit and Premier League clearance.
He has now rejoined the Ghana international squad ahead of their game with Swaziland on Sunday.
Kingson was part of the Ghana side who controversially lost a penalty shoot-out against Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.