Blackpool vs Nottingham Forest tips and predictions: Back visitors to avenge 2023 mauling
- George Dempsey
- 16 January 2024
Nottingham Forest will be looking to set the record straight on Wednesday night after two FA Cup setbacks in as many seasons against Blackpool (1945 GMT).
Bloomfield Road will be bouncing when Blackpool host Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday evening.
The bookies sniff a potential upset here, carefully pricing the Premier League side as favourites, but only just.
The Tangerines caught Forest cold in the first meeting, finding the net twice in three minutes with their only shots of the first half.
It wasn’t the first time Blackpool had bloodied Forest’s nose, as the Premier League side are looking to avenge a 4-1 FA Cup defeat suffered at this stage last year.
They had to wait until the 53rd minute for their third and final shot of the afternoon and Morgan Gibbs-White’s equaliser came just three minutes later.
All credit to the visitors for pinching a draw against a team two leagues above them, but a 2-0 win for the hosts would have been a fair result on the balance of play.
Although the 14/5 on offer for a home win at the time of writing may seem tempting, we're not predicting a shock on Wednesday night.
The Premier League side have had an extended rest before this and can afford to field a full-strength team.
Despite their strong home record, Blackpool have lost to Derby and Peterborough at home and failed to beat four of the five top-nine sides they’ve faced at Bloomfield Road.
Forest have looked steely and determined under Nuno having picked up huge wins against Newcastle United (3-1) and Manchester United (2-1).
Having 10 uninterrupted days to take onboard their new manager's ideas and style could be hugely beneficial and they can use this cup tie to put them into practice.
Neil Critchley’s side will be playing their third game in eight days and their fifth in January so far, while this will only be Forest’s second outing since the turn of the New Year.
Team news
First-leg heroes Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Albie Morgan both featured for Blackpool on the weekend, with the latter scoring a brace in a 2-0 win.
Experienced hitman Jordan Rhodes has scored 15 in 23 for the Tangerines and is expected to lead the line on Wednesday.
Taiwo Awoniyi and Felipe are ruled out due to injury while Anthony Elanga and Divock Origi are doubts and unlikely to be risked.
Ibrahim Sangare, Ola Aina, Moussa Niakhate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Willy Boly and Serge Aurier are unavailable while on African Cup of Nations duty.
Key stats
- Blackpool beat Nottingham Forest 4-1 in the third round of the FA Cup last season
- Blackpool have won nine of their last 10 home matches
- Nottingham Forest have lost nine consecutive away games in the FA Cup
- Six of those defeats came against opposition outside of the Premier League
