Another big test against Nottingham Forest, unbeaten at home and a real contender for a promotion place, especially with a rehashed defence due to the ongoing injury situation. Yet again, the team rose to the occasion, kept their heads and patience and got their rewards, albeit late on.
After a steady start, I thought we were looking comfortable when Mackenzie played a great ball into the area for the onrushing Bishop to catch out their defender who was forced to concede a penalty as Bishop looked certain to score. Abdoun then took an age to trudge off, a factor that possibly affected Ince who shot tamely to the keeper’s right, allowing him the opportunity to make a fairly comfortable save.
With over half the game remaining, we then took a stranglehold on the game, with Forest retreating into a defensive shape, while we constantly probed and sought to work the ball through. Far too often we were breaking at some pace then losing impetus once we got near their area, resorting to flicks and high risk passes. Ince in particular often took the wrong option.
We made a number of attacking substitutions to try and force the issue, with Forest clearly happy to take a point and it finally bore fruit as Ince played a ball in to Davies who laid off to Chopra. He then set up Dobbie to calmly sidefoot home to send the 900 or so Blackpool fans delirious. Once again we came away from the City Ground with a great result. With other results going our way, we are now firmly ensconced in a playoff place. One more game to see through and we can go into another International break with a real sense of positivity.
STARMAN: Neal Bishop
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