Ian Holloway has said that his side's big summer signings have had a huge role in their return to the Championship play-offs this season.

Blackpool host Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road in the first leg of their semi-final clash tonight, but the former Leicester boss took time to pay tribute to some of the club's key players.

"Kevin Phillips came and chose us," he said. "People of that calibre wanted to come to us.

"So we utilised that. Then there's been important things throughout the season – the addition of [Lomana] LuaLua, the addition of Stephen Dobbie.

"The thing I'm pleased about most is the lads have just carried on and improved."

Blackpool travel to Birmingham for the return leg next week.