Championship
BlackpoolBlackpool1Nottm ForestNottingham Forest4

Blackpool 1-4 Nottingham Forest: Brennan Johnson double guides play-off chasers to victory

Brennan Johnson's first double for Nottingham Forest took the Wales international's tally to 14 for the season - nine of which have come since Christmas
Brennan Johnson's first Forest double took the Wales international's season tally to 14 - nine of which have come since Christmas

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, unbeaten in their previous four games, 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.

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley:

"It was a strange game. Every time they got into our penalty area, they scored. We just didn't defend those moments well enough, and they had a bit of luck.

"I've not seen the stats yet, but I reckon there'll be not a lot in that game. We weren't second best - only in moments.

"Forest have got quality players at the top of the pitch, but we didn't have the quality or composure they had."

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper:

"I didn't say anything to Brennan but I think when he's come back from international duty in recent times, he's taken a little bit to get going.

"I felt it was interesting to see how he did, and he was excellent - his whole approach to playing for the team and the contribution that he makes.

"We're really hitting our stride this season. All the boys believe in ourselves to win games - if we can do the business on the pitch then the rest will take care of itself."

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

Match Stats

Home TeamBlackpoolAway TeamNottm Forest
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home18
Away17
Shots on Target
Home5
Away7
Corners
Home8
Away4
Fouls
Home9
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Blackpool 1, Nottingham Forest 4.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Blackpool 1, Nottingham Forest 4.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  4. Post update

    Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by James Husband (Blackpool).

  6. Post update

    Offside, Nottingham Forest. Tobias Figueiredo tries a through ball, but Lewis Grabban is caught offside.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Tobias Figueiredo (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Garner with a cross.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by James Husband.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lewis Grabban (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Lolley.

  10. Goal!

    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.

  11. Booking

    Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest).

  13. Post update

    James Husband (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  14. Post update

    Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Tobias Figueiredo.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Callum Connolly (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Josh Bowler (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Keshi Anderson with a cross.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Yates.

  18. Goal!

    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.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dujon Sterling with a cross.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jack Colback (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Yates following a set piece situation.

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As It Stood

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3Huddersfield401812105243966
4Luton3918101158441464
5Middlesbrough381881252401262
6Blackburn4017111251411062
7Nottm Forest3717101057362161
8Sheff Utd3917101252411161
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10Millwall391513114138358
11Coventry391511135148356
12West Brom381412124236654
13Stoke391410154944552
14Blackpool381410144345-252
15Preston391215124045-551
16Swansea38149154552-751
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19Birmingham391012174258-1642
20Hull40118213345-1241
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24Peterborough3968253280-4826
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