Nottingham Forest scored three first-half goals as they boosted their Championship play-off hopes with victory at Blackpool.
Brennan Johnson’s first-half double followed Philip Zinckernagel’s highly fortuitous opener, and substitute Sam Surridge’s late fourth cemented victory before Callum Connolly’s consolation goal for Blackpool.
After starting the day in ninth, Forest’s eighth away league win of the season – and eighth game without defeat – lifted them to fifth going into the afternoon fixtures.
However, while the visitors were much the better side, all three first-half goals owed something to luck, especially the opener.
From Johnson’s low right-wing cross on 11 minutes, Zinckernagel’s near-post effort clipped Blackpool defender Jordan Thorniley’s heel and span up cruelly over goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw to find the left corner.
Johnson then got on the scoresheet on the half-hour when Ryan Yates’ pass deflected kindly into his path off James Husband and the in-form Wales international despatched an instinctive right-foot half-volley low into the same bottom corner.
And when Grimshaw miscued a clearance straight to Johnson, the 20-year-old made him pay with clinical efficiency, nutmegging Husband before firing past the hapless keeper for his 14th goal of the campaign and his ninth since Christmas.
Blackpool had as much possession throughout, created chances of their own and were certainly not flattered by the scoreline – especially when Surridge slid home an excellent Forest fourth.
But the hosts at least had the final word when Blackpool defender Connolly, a second-half substitute for Kevin Stewart, volleyed home Thorniley’s knockdown.
Who’s next?
Blackpool still had an outside chance of making the play-offs prior to kick-off, having begun the day just six points behind Forest in 13th.
But, with eight games left, beginning with two successive away Lancashire derbies, at Preston on Tuesday and Blackburn next Saturday, it looks a tall order.
Forest now face two Midlands derbies this week, at home to fellow play-off contenders Coventry on Tuesday, then against Birmingham City on Saturday.
Line-ups
Blackpool
Formation 4-4-2
- 32Grimshaw
- 35Sterling
- 21Ekpiteta
- 34Thorniley
- 3Husband
- 11Bowler
- 6StewartBooked at 55minsSubstituted forConnollyat 60′minutes
- 12Dougall
- 22HamiltonSubstituted forAndersonat 63′minutes
- 14Madine
- 9YatesSubstituted forLaveryat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Maxwell
- 2Connolly
- 5James
- 10Anderson
- 19Lavery
- 26Keogh
- 28Beesley
Nottm Forest
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 30Samba
- 4Worrall
- 3Figueiredo
- 26McKenna
- 2Spence
- 22Yates
- 37Garner
- 8Colback
- 11ZinckernagelSubstituted forLolleyat 74′minutesBooked at 88mins
- 20JohnsonSubstituted forGrabbanat 66′minutes
- 9DavisSubstituted forSurridgeat 66′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Horvath
- 6Mbe Soh
- 7Grabban
- 16Surridge
- 17Mighten
- 18Ribeiro Dias
- 23Lolley
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 13,986
Live Text
-
Match ends, Blackpool 1, Nottingham Forest 4.
-
Second Half ends, Blackpool 1, Nottingham Forest 4.
-
Attempt blocked. Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
-
Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by James Husband (Blackpool).
-
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Tobias Figueiredo tries a through ball, but Lewis Grabban is caught offside.
-
Attempt blocked. Tobias Figueiredo (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Garner with a cross.
-
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by James Husband.
-
Attempt blocked. Lewis Grabban (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Lolley.
-
Goal! Blackpool 1, Nottingham Forest 4. Callum Connolly (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jordan Thorniley following a set piece situation.
-
Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Foul by Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest).
-
James Husband (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Tobias Figueiredo.
-
Attempt blocked. Callum Connolly (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
-
Attempt blocked. Josh Bowler (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Keshi Anderson with a cross.
-
Attempt blocked. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Yates.
-
Goal! Blackpool 0, Nottingham Forest 4. Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott McKenna following a fast break.
-
Attempt missed. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dujon Sterling with a cross.
-
Attempt missed. Jack Colback (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Djed Spence following a set piece situation.