Blackpool defender Ian Evatt says manager Ian Holloway deserves greater respect.

Having seen the whole of the Holloway tenure, he is upset that the Bristolian is portrayed simply as 'a joker'.

"We all call him Ollie Mourinho," added Evatt. "We were singing that as we went up to collect the trophy. People see him as a joker. But he's a fantastic football manager.

"He has improved all of us. His tactics and attention to detail are second to none. Now he's in the Premier League where he deserves to be."

Looking ahead to life in the top flight, Evatt said: "I'll be watching the World Cup, seeing England players as an England fan. I'll be thinking, 'Jesus Christ, I've got to mark him next season.'

"We have worked our socks off - week in, week out. If anybody deserves it, it's us. In January, we came together and said we had to believe in ourselves.

"In the last 10 or 11 games, when the pressure has been on, we have come good.

"Hopefully now we will get the credit that we deserve. I'm not sure many teams will fancy coming to Bloomfield Road next season."