The Final Curtain

It’s time to draw a close to Blackpool Football Club’s season…at Bloomfield Road, at least, as Nottingham Forest are the visitors for the penultimate game of the season tomorrow afternoon.

After a disappointing season in front of the home faithful, the Blackpool players will be looking to go out on a high and give the fans something to cheer about as the season draws to a close, while Forest will be looking to crash the party as they make a bid to assure their Championship survival for one more season.

Vital Quotes:

‘Pool stalwart Keith Southern;

‘It’s been another good season and I just want us to get the point we need tomorrow and get everything done and dusted.

It will be difficult again next season if we are still here, but hopefully two seasons’ experience in the league will hold us in good stead for the following season.’

Forest manager Billy Davies;

‘It’s in our own hands, we know that ourselves.

We can’t rely on anybody else doing us a favour and we’ve got to prepare for a very difficult game on a very difficult pitch.’

Blackpool Team News:

Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Stephen McPhee are both out with knee injuries while Rob Edwards could shake off an ankle injury.

Lee Hughes will be pushing for a starting place after scoring against Charlton last time out, but Ormerod will likely be favoured in attack.

Player to watch: DJ Campbell

The on-loan striker issued a ‘come get me!’ call to the ‘Pool management this week, which was followed by the news that Parkes, should he be successful in securing the manager’s position on a full-time basis at the end of the season, is interested in signing the Leicester striker to a permanent deal.

Tomorrow will be DJ’s last chance to prove his worth to the side in front of the home fans and will likely be well up for the game – just in case it is his farewell to Bloomfield Road.

Nottingham Forest Team News:

Nathan Tyson and Rob Earnshaw are set to be back for the Reds and Joel Lynch returns after 2-games.

Kevin Wilson is suspended for the game and goalkeeper Iain Turner is out with a broken toe.

Paul Anderson is a doubt after an ankle injury picked up against Coventry.

Player to watch: Rob Earnshaw

The Welsh International striker has certainly made the rounds with regards to the clubs he’s been at in recent years – Forest, Derby, West Brom, Norwich and of course Cardiff – but he’s still a dangerous commodity to have facing your defence.

VitalBlackpool Player of the season nominees Shaun Barker and Alex Baptiste – along with the rest of the defence – will have to be on guard if the Welshman is to be kept at bay!

Match Facts & Stats

Last time the sides met, they played out a 0-0 draw at The City Ground while at Bloomfield Road the season before last, Forest came away the victors with a 2-0 result as the Seasiders fell to two Jack Lester goals as their terrible start to the season was just getting under-way – we all know how that ended up, though!