Blackpool 2-3 Nottingham Forest: Chris Wood nets extra-time winner as Premier League side reach FA Cup fourth round

Nottingham Forest survived a major scare in their FA Cup third-round replay at League One Blackpool as they blew a 2-0 lead in the second half before completing a narrow 3-2 extra-time win against a spirited home side.

On a freezing cold night at Bloomfield Road – a venue wHere Forest lost 4-1 in the third round a year ago – Republic of Ireland defender Andrew Omobamidele scored a volley on his Forest debut (16′) before Danilo appeared to have finalised the Premier League side’s progress when he punished some slack defending to score a second goal (46′) early in the second half.

But Blackpool demonstrated why they had held Forest to a 2-2 draw at the City Ground and fought back with real self-belief in the final 30 minutes.

Former Charlton midfielder Albie Morgan struck from just outside the box courtesy of a delightful finish on 61 minutes with substitute Kyle Joseph forcing the match to extra-time with a headed finish 17 minutes later.

Home substitute Karamoko Dembele had the chance to win it late on for the Seasiders when he rounded Odisseas Vlachodimos in the Forest goal, but Orel Mangala raced back to block his goalbound finish.

Chris Wood finally secured a merited win for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men when he tapped home the cross from the excellent Ryan Yates on 110 minutes to set up a meeting with Bristol City in the fourth round on Friday, January 26.

They are up to 15th place in the Premier League before they visit Brentford on Saturday, and will head for London in a buoyant mood.

The sense of togetherness in the Forest camp was perhaps best summed up by players holding up an emotional tribute shirt to midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, who has been forced to leave the Senegal squad at the Africa Cup of Nations due to the death of his father.

A horrible, bitterly cold night for football on a bumpy pitch at the seaside, but Yates warmed to the occasion with a tireless shift at the heart of the action.

Set up Omobamidele’s opener for Forest with a headed flick before playing provider for Wood’s winner in the second half of extra-time.

Blackpool: Grimshaw 6, Connolly 6, Ekpiteta 6, Husband 7, Lawrence-Gabriel 7, Norburn 6, Morgan 6, Lyons 7, CJ Hamilton 6, Carey 6, Rhodes 6 Substitutes: O’Donnell 7, Dale 6, Joseph 7, Dembele 6, Lavery 6

Nottingham Forest: Vlachodimos 6, Williams 6, Omobamidele 6, Murillo 6, Tavares 7, Mangala 7, Yates 8, Hudson-Odoi 7, Danilo 7, Dominguez 7, Wood 7 Substitutes: Worrall 6, Toffolo 6, McKenna 6, Montiel 6, Aguilera 6

16′ GOAL FOR FOREST! (OMOBAMIDELE) Andrew Omobamidele arrives at the back post to volley into the net after Yates had flicked on the corner from Nicolás Domínguez. It is a 1-0 lead for the visitors. Happy days for the Forest fans.

46′ GOAL FOR FOREST! (DANILO) Blackpool all over the place at the back with Morgan dropping a pass short back to Grimshaw. Press from Forest is excellent and ball breaks out to Danilo who slips the shot into the net. It is 2-0.

61′ GOAL FOR BLACKPOOL! (MORGAN) Well, would you believe it! Albie Morgan controls the ball on edge of box and he clatters a brilliant finish high into the net. Odisseas Vlachodimos given no chance. And Blackpool rejoin the fight with their first shot on target of the match. Clinical.

78′ GOAL FOR BLACKPOOL! (JOSEPH) There is the equaliser. This is stunning stuff as Kyle Joseph arrives late at the back post to head into the net from close range with the Forest defence all over the show. What a turnaround here. Andrew Lyons with the cross. 2-2.

110′ GOAL FOR FOREST! (WOOD) And there is the lead for the Premier League side as Wood taps into the net from the Yates cross. Couldn’t miss with Danilo also involved. Fine goal. A 3-2 lead for Forest, whose fans are back in party mood.

Chris Wood has scored five goals in five games since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Steve Cooper as Forest manager last month.