DJ Campbell's double secured a fifth win of the season on the road as the Black Cats created a flurry of chances - 32 attempts on goal and 16 on target - but could not score.

The win took the Seasiders to 25 points and lifted them into eighth place to leave their manager purring.

Asked how much he has enjoyed the last year, Holloway said: "Yeah, we just don't want it to stop. Unfortunately, in a couple of days' time, it is going to be 2011.

"I don't want to go back to 2008 - that wasn't good - but 2010 has been an absolute belter for everybody connected with the Holloway family and Blackpool because we have got a bit of a thing going and it is a nice fit and I am more than happy.

"Ask any one of our fans who are now driving home how they feel about the place and how they feel about their club and how my lads are trying to play.

"From the day I started, they didn't moan, they could see what I was trying to do.

"They want us to pass the ball, they want to be entertained for their money, and any time we didn't give them what they wanted, which is a proper result, they didn't moan at us, so it's a dream come true.

"I look at people opposite me week in, week out - not today - and I think, 'I don't want to be you because you look so worried, it's frightening'.

"I don't worry for my job because I am trying to do a good job and at this level, it is so mad, it is so crazy. Sam Allardyce lost his job when he was 10th, Chris Hughton lost his job. How come those people can lose their jobs and I am still in mine?

"I was behind them when they got sacked, so what's it all about?"

Sunderland had only themselves to blame after creating more than enough chances to win the game, but failing to take any of them.

That was partly due to goalkeeper Richard Kingson's stubbornness and some dogged defence, while Darren Bent was denied by the crossbar with a late free-kick.

However, Bent, - now without a goal in five games - record signing Asamoah Gyan and the in-form Danny Welbeck were guilty of passing up a series of gilt-edged opportunities, and Blackpool took full advantage.

They went in front seven minutes after the restart when Campbell, who was given his first big chance in the top flight by then Birmingham boss Steve Bruce, volleyed home from close range after Ian Evatt had flicked on Neil Eardley's cross.

Craig Cathcart should perhaps have increased the visitors' lead when he put a free header into the side-netting, but after a number of Sunderland chances went begging, Campbell scored again at the death as he slotted home from impressive substitute Matt Phillips' pin-point cross.

Bruce was left bemused by what he had seen.

He said: "I have never witnessed anything like that, not at this level, anyway - maybe when I was at school.

"There's nothing I can say. We absolutely hammered them and lost 2-0. I can't remember ever being involved in a Premier League game where we have had so many chances.

"It could have been 10, it could quite easily have been 10."