Nott'm Forest 3-4 Blackpool
By Michael Lynch
May 31 2010
Nottingham Forest were left devastated by a second-half Blackpool fightback after twice taking the lead in what proved to be an enthralling encounter in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi final second leg.
Despite going into the game on the backfoot following a 2-1 defeat away at Blackpool in the first half of this two-legged encounter, the Red Army were in great voice to create a red-hot atmosphere for the first hour of this game.
To hear the Trent End and Brian Clough stands joining in the singing was the sole highlight of what despite starting so promisingly, turned out to be a dismal night in which the Tangerines would secure their place at Wembley and Forest their place in the Championship for another year.
Nottingham Forest took the lead early on when a defensive error from Holloway's men saw Earnshaw through on goal after just seven minutes. It seemed that home advantage was showing and the floodgates were possibly opening. However, Blackpool held out for the remainder of the half and the Reds went in at half time with just a one goal advantage. This would not be enough to see them through on aggregate, with the sides still level over the two legs.
[Joy: Earnshaw celebrates giving Forest the lead]
Whatever the Blackpool boss said to his team during the fifteen minute break was effective and the Tangerine's came out with a new life about them in the second half. Just ten minutes in and Blackpool had scored their equaliser thanks to Trentside man of the match DJ Campbell.
The Forest faithful were still in good voice and this looked to be paying off when Welshman Robbie Earnshaw again struck for Forest in the 66th minute. Forest were ahead again and had equalised on the aggregate scoreline.
Unfortunately however this was short-lived as Blackpool turned on the style. Three goals in under ten minutes followed as Scott Dobie (72) and DJ Campbell (76, 79) shared the crushing blows between themselves.
All that was left was for Dele Adebola to score a last minute consolation goal during injury time as Forest never looked like recovering from this series of blows.
Forest had previously been unbeaten in 20 home games and not conceded in over 12 hours of City Ground football. This coupled with the fact that Blackpool had twice come from behind made defeat an all the more bitter pill to swallow.
Campbell's devastating hat-trick saw Forest crashing out and many of the faithful leaving their seats early. In a show of good sportsmanship however, the majority of the Nottingham crowd did stay to clap the players at the end of what had been a demanding and largely successful campaign for both clubs considering where they finished last season.
Nottingham Forest can now count Leeds United and Norwich amongst their foes for the forthcoming league campaign.
Man of the Match: DJ Campbell (Blackpool)
Scoring goals is a striker's job and it doesn't matter how he gets them. They weren't the prettiest, but they were effective and the difference between the two sides. If Forest has shown this degree of ruthlessness in front of goal we may have been looking at a different story.
Billy’s Verdict:
"In big games you have to be confident enough to get on the ball and show composure and bravery and an arrogance second to none, but we didn't do that tonight.
"Credit to Blackpool, they handled it better than we did. We had too many players freeze on the night.
"These young players froze on the night. Young players that have been outstanding all season and who did great to finish third - it was just too much tonight."
Blackpool's Holloway:
"I am very proud."
"We knew it would be tough and I didn't know if we would have the answers to the questions they asked.
"I said it would have to be the best we have ever played if we were to do it - and I think it was the best we have ever played."
Nottingham Forest 3-4 Blackpool
(HT 1-0)
(agg 4-6)
| Earnshaw 7 Earnshaw 66 Adebola 90+2 | Campbell 56 Dobbie 72 Campbell 76 Campbell 7 |
| Nottingham Forest 01 Camp | Blackpool 03 Crainey 06 Evatt 15 Baptiste 31 Coleman 04 Southern 11 Vaughan 26 Adam (Edwards 90+4) 10 Ormerod (Dobbie 69) 12 Taylor-Fletcher (Burgess 77) 19 Campbell Substitutes 01 Rachubka, 24 Edwards, 29 Bannan, 07 Clarke, 09 Burgess, 18 Euell, 33 Dobbie |