Blackpool may be new opposition in the Premier League but should they play in the image of their manager, Ray Wilkins knows very well what to expect on Sunday.
The Chelsea assistant shared five years with Ian Holloway when they were at Queens Park Rangers in the early 1990s, firstly as a team-mate in midfield and then with Wilkins as player/manager.
Holloway would later follow into the Rangers hot seat as well as managing Bristol Rovers, Plymouth, Leicester and now the Seasiders.
'When I had the pleasure of playing with Ian at Queens Park Rangers he had such a fantastic work ethic,' Wilkins recalls.
'That is something you see coming through in his teams and the way they play. First and foremost they work extremely hard and then the quality comes out afterwards.
'Because of how hard he is prepared to work it doesn't surprise me that he has had success, and I am very pleased for him.'
QPR fans must consider the era when Wilkins and Holloway graced Loftus Road as one of success. In the first season of the Premier League, 1992/93, their fifth-place finished was higher than any other London side.
'It was a good time, we had some good players,' Wilkins confirms. 'We did well for the resources that Queens Park Rangers had.
'Simon Barker or Holly would come into midfield with me and the other one would play wide. We always played 4-4-2 with Gerry Francis as manager. There were Trevor Sinclair and Andy Impey, before that was Andy Sinton, and up front was Les Ferdinand and then Roy Wegerle.'
Holloway's distinctive West Country accent was little heard among those other voices in the dressing room back then.
'When he first joined us he was quiet, so he has changed a touch!' points out Wilkins.
Chelsea's record against newly-promoted sides stands up to inspection, with our last defeat against a side fresh to the top-flight coming over nine years ago.
'Blackpool must be playing good football because they are creating chances and scoring goals,' notes Wilkins, 'and coupled with the work ethic that Holly will demand then you are going to get some results.
'But our record shows we approach these games in the right fashion so that is how we have to approach this one.
'It is up to us to work as hard as Blackpool and to play our football. We have been playing some very good football and everyone who has taken part in the team has contributed very well, so we have to think about our play, do what we want to do, and hope that our run will continue.
The Chelsea assistant shared five years with Ian Holloway when they were at Queens Park Rangers in the early 1990s, firstly as a team-mate in midfield and then with Wilkins as player/manager.
Holloway would later follow into the Rangers hot seat as well as managing Bristol Rovers, Plymouth, Leicester and now the Seasiders.
'When I had the pleasure of playing with Ian at Queens Park Rangers he had such a fantastic work ethic,' Wilkins recalls.
'That is something you see coming through in his teams and the way they play. First and foremost they work extremely hard and then the quality comes out afterwards.
'Because of how hard he is prepared to work it doesn't surprise me that he has had success, and I am very pleased for him.'
QPR fans must consider the era when Wilkins and Holloway graced Loftus Road as one of success. In the first season of the Premier League, 1992/93, their fifth-place finished was higher than any other London side.
'It was a good time, we had some good players,' Wilkins confirms. 'We did well for the resources that Queens Park Rangers had.
'Simon Barker or Holly would come into midfield with me and the other one would play wide. We always played 4-4-2 with Gerry Francis as manager. There were Trevor Sinclair and Andy Impey, before that was Andy Sinton, and up front was Les Ferdinand and then Roy Wegerle.'
Holloway's distinctive West Country accent was little heard among those other voices in the dressing room back then.
'When he first joined us he was quiet, so he has changed a touch!' points out Wilkins.
Chelsea's record against newly-promoted sides stands up to inspection, with our last defeat against a side fresh to the top-flight coming over nine years ago.
'Blackpool must be playing good football because they are creating chances and scoring goals,' notes Wilkins, 'and coupled with the work ethic that Holly will demand then you are going to get some results.
'But our record shows we approach these games in the right fashion so that is how we have to approach this one.
'It is up to us to work as hard as Blackpool and to play our football. We have been playing some very good football and everyone who has taken part in the team has contributed very well, so we have to think about our play, do what we want to do, and hope that our run will continue.
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