The former Blackpool and England full-back Jimmy Armfield said recently that his old club were playing their best football for 30 years.
At Pride Park yesterday Blackpool vindicated Armfield's opinion by playing the best football for 90 minutes, reducing Derby to passengers in front of a sizeable home crowd and suggesting that, under the effervescent guidance of their manager, Ian Holloway, a push for the promotion play-offs could become a reality in the new year.
Derby, for the second time at home in seven days, were convincingly beaten, and their manager, Nigel Clough, admitted his main task before his fragile side visit Championship leaders Newcastle United tomorrow evening is to repair confidence.
That's not a task Holloway should need to devote too much time to