After the draw against Tottenham Hotspur, Blackpool players DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam engage in a heated exchange, highlighting the rising tension at the club, which is facing relegation.
Following the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had to step in to resolve a disagreement between the two players.
Before the match concluded, the Tangerines pair argued on the field when Campbell expressed his desire to take the Seasiders’ second penalty right after Adam’s earlier attempt was thwarted by Heurelho Gomes.
Ultimately, it was Blackpool’s captain Adam who took the second penalty, successfully converting past the Spurs goalkeeper, before Jermain Defoe scored to equalize for the home side at White Hart Lane.
However, the dispute between Campbell and Adam continued on the bus ride back to Blackpool from London.
Holloway remarked, “It’s a bit upsetting for me to see them care so much that it escalated to a little argument.”
“I had to mediate a conflict on the way home between DJ and Charlie, but it illustrates their passion.”
“If they’d approached me, I probably would have sided with DJ. I believed he should have taken the penalty.”
“But it demonstrates what Charlie is made of, as he had the courage to request it immediately following his missed opportunity.”
With only two games left in the season as his team fights against relegation from the Premier League, Holloway did not seem overly concerned by the skirmish.
At a moment of reflection, Holloway noted, “The essential point is that both DJ and Charlie are fiercely passionate about winning, and that is what truly matters.”
“We must consider the stakes involved. We all desperately want to remain in this magnificent league.”
He added, “We had our discussions in the locker room afterwards, and everyone voiced their opinions.”
“But they need to remember how proud I am of them. Nothing will ever alter that sentiment, nor how I feel about this place.”
EPL Ladder
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | Man United | 36 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 39 | 76 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 37 | 70 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 36 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 30 | 67 |
| 4 | Man City | 35 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 62 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 58 |
| 6 | Tottenham | 35 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
| 7 | Everton | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 51 |
| 8 | Stoke | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 46 |
| 9 | Bolton | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | -1 | 46 |
| 10 | Fulham | 36 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 45 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | -1 | 44 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | -12 | 44 |
| 13 | West Brom | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | -16 | 43 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | -13 | 42 |
| 15 | Blackburn | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | -14 | 39 |
| 16 | Birmingham | 36 | 8 | 15 | 13 | -18 | 39 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | -21 | 37 |
| 18 | Blackpool | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | -22 | 36 |
| 19 | Wigan | 36 | 7 | 15 | 14 | -23 | 36 |
| 20 | West Ham | 36 | 7 | 12 | 17 | -23 | 33 |
by Buford Balony
