On this day in 2010, Blackpool had one of their finest moments as they dispatched Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg.
The Seasiders headed into the tie 2-1 up following victory at Bloomfield Road in the first leg three days prior thanks to a Keith Southern first half finish and a Charlie Adam second half penalty.
Making the play offs on the final day of the regular campaign ahead of Swansea City after a 1-1 draw against Bristol City at home, with the Welsh side dropping points against Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool were always the outsiders against a Forest side who finished third on 79 points but Ian Holloway's side more than played their part in a seven-goal thriller at the City Ground.
28,358 fans packed out Forest's home with a sold out Seasiders away end decked in Tangerine knowing their side, who were one of the favourites were relegation before a ball was kicked at the start of the 2009/10 season, were one game away from a trip to Wembley Stadium.
"This young team have done fantastically well, we're very proud to have come third in the league but we have an incredibly tough challenge against this well organised Blackpool side."
Billy Davies
Pre-Match Thoughts
"It's an amazing chance for us, we're really excited about it. We're ready to go, we've got a chance and what a fantastic season we've had. We are coming to attack."
Ian Holloway
Pre-Match Thoughts
An intense affair
With a frantic tempo from the off, a seventh minute goal from Rob Earnshaw came as no surprise with both sides playing an open style leaving space to exploit. With 15 goals in that 2009/10 campaign, the Welshman was known for his predatory instincts in front of goal and he pounced on an Alex Baptiste misplaced clearance to slot past Matt Gilks and make the tie level on aggregate with Forest primed to go through on away goals at 2-2.
That early setback did little to deter the Seasiders who continued to play an aggressive, front-foot style which the hosts simply could not handle as Blackpool began to assert themselves on to the game as the first half came to a close. Charlie Adam unleashed a textbook long-range strike which caused Lee Camp problems in the Forest goal but Ian Holloway's side went in a goal down at the break - what came next was a second half for the ages.
Forest hadn't conceded at the City Ground in more than 12 hours prior to this pivotal encounter but Blackpool made light work of that as the final 45 minutes got underway. A speculative looped ball in behind forced Camp to rush out of goal but DJ Campbell's pace was the deciding factor as he lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper to level the score on the night and go ahead once again on aggregate.
Dreams are made
Despite Blackpool's equaliser, Forest continued to pose a threat in an increasingly open contest which saw both sides look to work dangerous positions in the final third. The Seasiders' defensive frustrations on the night continued as Rob Earnshaw found space in between Ian Evatt and Alex Baptiste to fire home to hand Billy Davies' side the advantage once again.
As ever with a Seasiders team that had embodied a 'never say die' attitude, Blackpool continued to play on the front foot and as Stephen Dobbie entered the field in place of Brett Ormerod it took just three minutes for the Scottish forward to make the desired impact. A deflected strike wrong-footed Lee Camp in the 72nd minute after good work down the left wing from Stephen Crainey to put the game level again on the night and Blackpool ahead on aggregate.
Holloway's side had found another gear and Forest struggled to handle the quick rotations both in midfield and in the final third. That momentum shift told as four minutes after Dobbie's equaliser, an expert interchange between Dobbie and DJ Campbell saw the striker finish and put Blackpool ahead for the first time on the night. With Forest dejected, Dobbie's instrumental impact told once more as he cut inside and drove at the heart of the Forest defence with Camp's initial save falling straight into the path of Campbell for his hat-trick as Blackpool ripped up the form book to put Davies' favourites to the sword.
With Wembley beckoning, the hosts found a late consolation through Dele Adebola to restore an element of pride but the Seasiders ensured that it was they who would be making the trip to London to take on Cardiff City for a chance at history and a promotion to the Premier League.
A game away from glory
The referee's whistle was blown and the Blackpool players instinctively ran towards the packed out City Ground away end in jubilation. Ian Holloway, Steve Thompson and the Seasiders substitutes embraced on the sideline as Forest's players fell to the floor.
Outsiders on the night, outsiders for the season, Blackpool were now one game away from immortality on their day in the sun.
"These young players froze on the night. Young players that have been outstanding all season and who did great to finish third - it was just too much tonight. But don't take anything away from Blackpool, they deserved it and I wish them all the best in the final. I hope they win it."
Billy Davies
Post-Match Reaction
"I am very proud. We knew it would be tough and I didn't know if we would have the answers to the questions they asked. I said it would have to be the best we have ever played if we were to do it - and I think it was the best we have ever played. We are still learning and still evolving but we have achieved something mega. We are within 90 minutes of playing in the Premier League and that is unbelievable."
Ian Holloway
Post-Match Reaction