Nottingham Forest

Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds draw 2-2 with Blackpool in FA Cup tie

Published

11 months ago

January 8, 2024

Nottingham Forest face having to change their plans for their winter break after being held to a 2-2 draw by Blackpool in the FA Cup.

The hosts were forced to come from behind after ex-Red Jordan Gabriel and Albie Morgan had put the Seasiders 2-0 up. Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White both made it two goals in two games to ensure the Reds avoided defeat.

Forest pushed for a winner, and they did create chances at the City Ground. However, they couldn’t force the breakthrough and now face going to Bloomfield Road to settle the third round tie with a replay.

The extra game means head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has to change his plans for the next fortnight. The Reds were planning to go to St George’s Park for three days, to make the most of a blank weekend, but the Portuguese boss says those plans will have to be reorganised.

“We have to reorganise that,” Nuno said. “When we decided that we looked at what was best for the team. Now what is best for the team is to start preparing for the replay in Blackpool. That is the priority.

“It changes the plan. Now we have to reorganise and we won’t get a break because now the priority is the replay. We have to reorganise our plans.

“We started very badly in the game and very slowly. We conceded too easily. The first half was not good at all. It was not the way we wanted to start the game.

“We conceded too easily. That was the really negative part. It made our task harder.

“Credit to the way we reacted. We had clear chances but in the end we couldn’t finish it today. It is a disappointing moment. But the good part is we have a second chance to do it.\

“We knew we needed a reaction because the first half wasn’t good. The second half was better. The reaction was there and it was positive. At the same time, we had a lot of negatives in the game.”