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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Blackpool vs Nottingham Forest. The FA Cup Third Round.

Bloomfield RoadAttendance8,098.

Blackpool 2

  • A Morgan (61st minute)
  • K Joseph (78th minute)

Nottingham Forest 3

  • A Omobamidele (16th minute)
  • D dos Santos de Oliveira (46th minute)
  • C Wood (110th minute)

Blackpool 2-3 Nottingham Forest (AET): Chris Wood scores extra-time winner as visitors reach FA Cup fourth round

Match report as Nottingham Forest need extra time to see off League One Blackpool; Andrew Omobamidele scored on debut; Chris Wood notched winner with striker tapping in Ryan Yates' cross to send Premier League side through after a rip-roaring replay

Chris Wood celebrates his extra-time winner
Image: Chris Wood celebrates his extra-time winner

Chris Wood struck an extra-time winner as Nottingham Forest avoided an FA Cup shock by beating Blackpool 3-2 amid a troubled week.

The Premier League club were charged with breaching the top flight's financial regulations on Monday and third-tier Blackpool almost added to their woe as they fought back from 2-0 down at Bloomfield Road.

A penalty shootout was looming in an eventful replay when Wood turned in from close range to secure the win and a fourth-round date with Bristol City.

Nottingham Forest's Andrew Omobamidele, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup 3rd round replay soccer match between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest at the Bloomfield Road stadium in Blackpool, England, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Image: Andrew Omobamidele scored on his Nottingham Forest debut to give his side the lead at Bloomfield Road

Forest had seemed in little trouble when Andrew Omobamidele marked his belated debut with the opener and Danilo doubled the lead but the hosts hit back with an Albie Morgan stunner and header from substitute Kyle Joseph.

All that drama occurred in the final half hour after Forest seemed to have taken firm control.

There was little to excite in the opening quarter of an hour aside from a header from Murillo which was clawed away by Blackpool goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw.

Nottingham Forest's Danilo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English FA Cup 3rd round replay soccer match between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest at the Bloomfield Road stadium in Blackpool, England, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Image: Danilo doubled Forest's advantage straight after the break following a defensive mistake

Forest took control of the game in the 16th minute as Republic of Ireland defender Omobamidele, finally making his first appearance after his move from Norwich last summer, struck.

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Omobamidele went forward for a corner and firmly volleyed home after Nicolas Dominguez's cross was flicked on by Ryan Yates.

After celebrating he ran to the Forest bench and picked up a shirt which displayed a message to team-mate Cheikhou Kouyate, who is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations and whose father recently died.

Blackpool were limited to half-chances as Forest retained the upper hand without any great urgency to kill off the game.

Blackpool's Albie Morgan, left, scores his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup 3rd round replay soccer match between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest at the Bloomfield Road stadium in Blackpool, England, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Image: Albie Morgan scored from the edge of the area in the 61st minute to give Blackpool hope of rescuing the tie

It seemed Blackpool's best opportunity had passed when they surrendered a two-goal lead at the City Ground in the sides' first meeting as Forest doubled their advantage soon after the break.

The hosts got into a mess trying to play out from the back and Morgan's underhit backpass invited in Dominguez.

The Argentinian collided with the outrushing Grimshaw as he raced into the box but the loose ball rolled to Danilo, who fired in despite the efforts of Marvin Ekpiteta on the line.

To compound matters for Blackpool, Grimshaw was forced off after his knock but, from seemingly nowhere, the hosts roused themselves.

The game came alive on the hour as Forest failed to clear a home attack and Morgan, atoning for his earlier error, pulled one back with a superb strike from distance.

Forest almost responded immediately as Neco Williams forced a save from substitute keeper Richard O'Donnell but Blackpool began to sense a chance.

Joseph levelled matters just seven minutes after coming off the bench when he nodded in a high cross from Andy Lyons at the back post.

Wood tucks home the winner from close range
Image: Wood tucks home the winner from close range

With the home crowd at their most raucous, Blackpool appealed for a penalty when Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel went down under a challenge from Murillo but nothing was given.

Karamoko Dembele almost snatched victory for Blackpool in stoppage time when he burst clear and rounded Odysseas Vlachodimos but Orel Mangala blocked on the line.

Shayne Lavery had an effort deflected over for Blackpool in the first period of extra-time, which ended with an apparent medical emergency among the Forest supporters but, after a brief flurry of activity, the game was not delayed.

Wood notched what proved to be the winner when he diverted in a Yates cross in the 110th minute.

Critchley: Nothing but praise for our players

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley:

"To go all that way and not to have anything to show for it is hard to take because I thought over the course of the 120 minutes, you couldn't really tell the difference between the two teams.

"I thought we were brilliant. I thought we went and had a real go and made it a real exciting cup tie.

"To come from 2-0 down and show spirit and with the quality of the goals as well - I'm just bitterly disappointed that we didn't take it to penalties and make it maybe even more exciting than it already was."

Nuno: Our character is special

Nottingham Forest's Andrew Omobamidele, right, celebrates with is teammate after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup 3rd round replay soccer match between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest at the Bloomfield Road stadium in Blackpool, England, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Image: Omobamidele held up a shirt with the message 'thinking of you, Cheikhou Kouyate'

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo:

"This is the FA Cup. That's why this competition is so special - it allows every team to play and to fight the way Blackpool did.

"We cannot take credit away from them. We had our problems but a lot of credit goes to Blackpool.

"This is the magic of the FA Cup. That's why I love it, because it is one chance for everybody.

"It was tough, but we did the job. We could have done better and we made mistakes that allowed Blackpool to get back in the game but in extra time we showed that we deserved the victory."

Omobamidele celebrated the opener by lifting a shirt bearing a message for team-mate Cheikhou Kouyate.The Senegal international has left his team's camp at the Africa Cup of Nations following the death of his father.

Nuno said: "We had the news before the game and it's a shock. Our thoughts are with him and the boys did well showing his shirt because he's a very important guy in the dressing room and on the pitch."

What's next?

Live: SNF

Nottingham Forest visit Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium; kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports.

Blackpool visit Bristol Rovers in Sky Bet League One at 3pm.

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