Blackpool Town vs Nottingham Forest

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Blackpool Preview
Thu 23 Apr 2009
Nottingham Forest will head to the seaside on Saturday knowing they could move within touching distance of Championship survival.
It will be mission accomplished for The Reds if they beat Blackpool at Bloomfield Road (kick-off 12.30pm) and results elsewhere involving their relegation rivals go their way.
In fact a solitary point could be good enough for Billy Davies and his men but they will make the trip determined to secure a victory.
Forest have hit form at just the right time. They are unbeaten in four, having won their last two home games and secured draws from their last couple of away fixtures.
Blackpool, meanwhile, are still not mathematically assured of playing Championship football again next season.
But Tony Parkes' men appear to have done enough. They are unbeaten in three games and are currently six points above the drop zone.

Team news
Two strikers provided Billy Davies with a boost this week ahead of the trip to Blackpool.
Nathan Tyson and Robert Earnshaw both resumed full training and, in the process, put themselves firmly in the manager's selection plans.
Earnshaw was on the bench against Coventry last Saturday but was far from fully fit, while Tyson has missed three games with an ankle problem.
The fact they are both available for the trip to the North West coast will certainly bolster the firepower at Davies' disposal for a potentially crucial encounter.
And there's more good news with defender Joel Lynch also available again after a two-match lay-off for personal reasons.
Davies may also be able to call upon loan goalkeeper Iain Turner. He has missed two games with a broken toe but Forest are assessing his fitness with his parent club Everton.
And midfielder Guy Moussi is pushing for a return after stepping-up his bid for full fitness with a midweek run-out for the reserves.
Paul Anderson, however, is a doubt after he sustained an ankle injury against Coventry, while suspension again rules Kelvin Wilson out of the squad.
Blackpool are not reporting any fresh injuries and are expected to include striker Brett Ormerod in their squad.
He spent the final few months of last season on loan with Forest and played a key role as they secured automatic promotion on a dramatic final day.

Blackpool 1 v 1 Nottingham Forest
Sat 25 Apr 2009
Nottingham Forest were unable to secure Championship survival today after only managing to secure a point at Blackpool.

Blackpool started the game well but it was Forest who took an early lead before the home side got an equalizer in a first half with few chances on goal for either side.

It was a lively second half that saw more chances for both sides and although Forest came close on a number of occasions they were unable to find the back of the net.

With a goalmouth covered in sand Paul Smith almost looked like he was part of the building site behind him, whilst in front of him the condition of the pitch left a lot to be desired.

Blackpool created an early chance when Charlie Adam broke from midfield and fired in a cross. It was partially cleared but came out to David Vaughan who was chased down by three Forest players, with Chris Gunter getting a good block in.

And again they got into the penalty area, with defender Stephen Crainey's effort bouncing in front of Paul Smith before it was cleared away by Wes Morgan.

But it was Forest who took the lead after nine minutes with their first real move forward. Joe Garner laid the ball wide to Joel Lynch who put in the cross to Dexter Blackstock. He got in front of a Blackpool defender, stuck out his leg at the near post and sent the ball into the roof of the net.

Blackpool were beaten with a superb dummy from Garner to get away from Alex Baptise and put the ball through to Isiah Osbourne. His effort went flying wide and the Forest loan striker looked accusingly at the bumpy pitch for the off target shot.

It was Brett Ormerod, the player who helped Forest get promoted to the Championship last season, that put the home side back on level terms on the half hour mark.


Vaughan played the ball through to Ormerod who turned and shot from the right edge of the penalty area and the ball flew past Smith and inside the post.

The final 15 minutes of the half were poor with both sides anxious for the appalling condition of the pitch not to contribute to potential errors.

Garath McCleary replaced Ian Breckin for the start of the second half.

Forest created a great chance in the opening minutes which finished with a cross by Osbourne along the ground to Blackstock who got a slight touch on the ball at the near post, but it was put out by Barker for a corner.

Forest had a chance from a free kick after a foul by Keith Southern on Blackstock. It was taken well by Chris Cohen who saw his effort cleared for a corner by Adam.

The home side then put the pressure on when Vaughan curled in a cross which Smith stretched up and tipped away with his fingertips for a Blackpool corner.

Forest were back on the attack with a ball knocked in by Blackstock to Cohen, whose fierce shot at an angle was grabbed at the second attempt by Paul Rachubka.

Blackpool were down to ten men when Ian Evatt tugged on Joe Garner's shirt when he was clear through on goal. Cohen's free kick from just outside the D curled over the wall, producing a good save by Rachubka, who flew up with a dive to tip the ball out for a corner.

Forest took the corner quickly and Luke Chambers came agonisingly close to putting Forest in front with his effort.

Billy Davies' reaction was immediate as he brought Robert Earnshaw on for Osbourne to give Forest a three man strike force.

Two goalmouth scrambles put the Blackpool goal under pressure as they struggled to get the ball away. Several players, including James Perch, had a go at getting the ball over the line, but there were too many orange shirts in the way and the ball was finally cleared by Rachubka.

Blackpool were given an free kick after a foul by Garner and Crainey's effort produced Smith's best save of the game, diving to his left to put the ball out for a corner.

But Forest continued to put the pressure on and a cross in to Perch saw him head down and have his effort easily saved by the Blackpool keeper.

And McCleary did well to create another chance for Forest when he got the cross in to Earnshaw who turned and faced goal, but put his shot into the side netting.

Forest had a chance on the start of four minutes stoppage time when Earnshaw collided with Perch as he headed the ball and it ended up going wide.

And substitute Lewis McGugan made a great run from the half way line but ended up sending his shot from 20 yards straight to Rachubka.

The game was cut short when, after two minutes stoppage time, Blackpool made a substitution and then the referee immediately blew the full time whistle.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Luke Chambers, Ian Breckin(Garath McCleary, 45minHT), Wes Morgan, Joel Lynch, James Perch(C), Chris Gunter, Chris Cohen(Lewis McGugan, 85min), Isaiah Osbourne(Robert Earnshaw, 70min), Dexter Blackstock, Joe Garner
Subs not used: Shane Redmond, Matt Thornhill,
Bookings: Chambers 54min, Garner 80min
Scorer: Blackstock 9min

Blackpool: Paul Rachubka, Alex Baptiste, Shaun Barker, Ian Evatt, Stephen Crainey, Wade Small(Danny Coid 70min), Keith Southern, Charlie Adam, David Vaughan, Dudley Campbell, Brett Ormerod(Claus Bech Jorgensen 90+2min)
Subs not used: Matthew Gilks, Lee Hughes, Ben Burgess
Bookings: Adam 38min, Evatt RED CARD 68min, Crainey 73min
Scorer: Ormerod 30min

Referee: Jon Moss
Attendance: 9,279 away attn: 1,800