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.

Blackpool are intersted in signing Swansea striker Angel Rangel and are prepared to bid in the range of £1 million. The 27-year-old attacking right back has become a firm fans' favourite since joining Swansea from Spanish side Terrassa. But the player is in the last year of his Liberty Stadium contract and has expressed a desire to play in the Premier League.

Swansea would reportedly be prepared to sell for £750,000 plus add-ons.

Newly-promoted Blackpool are chasing Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley in an attempt to strengthen their defence in preparation for Premier League football.

The Journal claims Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is looking to offload the former Manchester United trainee. It is believed Seasiders boss Ian Holloway is an admirer of Bardsley, and is monitoring the situation closely.

The paper has also played down suggestions that West Brom might be tempted to make a bid for Bardsley. The Baggies were previously one of the front runners for Bardsley's signature over the summer