Preview: Blackpool vs. Nottingham Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

Nottingham Forest will square off against Blackpool on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory which could move the club into the Championship playoff places.

While the visitors are in ninth position and return from the international break with several games in hand, Blackpool are 13th and nine points adrift of the top six.

Match preview

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At a time when many of their rivals were competing for valuable points in the promotion race, Forest were not only going toe-to-toe with the form team in Europe, but pushing them to the brink, too.

Steve Cooper's team ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, but it will be remembered for an evening of what-ifs, particularly Philip Zinckernagel's missed opportunity shortly before Diogo Jota's decisive goal.

Nevertheless, despite the disappointment, Cooper and his squad return to league action full of positives and pride, Forest now having 10 matches to secure a playoff spot that they will feel more than capable of claiming over the next five weeks.

Of all the teams in the division, the East Midlands outfit have the busiest run-in, although there is a strong argument that momentum is everything at this stage of the campaign.

As it stands, Forest are three points adrift of the playoffs, but taking the wider picture into account, they trail third-placed Luton Town by five points and with two matches in hand, highlighting that their fate is in their own hands.

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Forest travel to Bloomfield Road on a seven-game unbeaten streak in the Championship to face opponents who have gone four matches without defeat.

Even though Blackpool look likely to fall short in their bid for the playoffs, Neil Critchley's team have been a breath of fresh air this campaign, comfortably avoiding a relegation battle that they seemed destined for after promotion from League One.

Last time out, the Seasiders' 14-match scoring streak in the league came to an end, but only in a hard-earned goalless draw at home to Sheffield United.

Blackpool have now kept three clean sheets in succession and gone 343 minutes without conceding a goal, statistics which will make Cooper and Forest sit up and take note ahead of their trip to the North-West.

Team News

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Blackpool could welcome back as many four players for this contest with Chris Maxwell, Richard Keogh, Matty Virtue and Keshi Anderson all potentially back in contention after injuries.

However, on the back of a solid performance and clean sheet against Sheffield United, Critchley could opt to select the same starting lineup providing that there are no further fitness issues.

As far as Forest are concerned, the likes of Scott McKenna, Steve Cook, Max Lowe and Lewis Grabban are all expected to remain on the sidelines.

Given the level of display against Liverpool, Cooper may be happy to stick with the same first XI with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath keeping his place between the sticks.

Alex Mighten and Sam Surridge are alternatives if Cooper wants to introduce a different feel in the final third.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Sterling, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Husband; Bowler, Stewart, Dougall, Hamilton; Madine

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Horvath; Spence, Worrall, Figueiredo, Colback; Yates, Garner; Lolley, Zinckernagel, Johnson; Davis

We say: Blackpool 1-2 Nottingham Forest

With only victories likely to be enough from here, we expect an attack-minded performance from Blackpool on Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, even with the international break, Forest have the momentum, and we feel that Cooper's side will edge this contest by the odd goal in three.