Neil Critchley’s side still have an outside chance of making the play-offs, though there is little room for error now, with seven games to go. Only Bournemouth have taken three points from Bloomfield Road in 2022, which took a 95th minute winner from Siriki Dembele to seal the win. The Seasiders are also currently enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in the Championship (W3, D1).
Nottingham Forest look much more likely to make the top six this season, sitting three points away from the play-off places, with games in hand on every team between third and eighth. Forest are enjoying an unbeaten run of their own that stretches to seven league games (W4, D3) and will be comforted by the fact they haven’t lost away at Blackpool since 2011.
Blackpool (9) and Nottingham Forest (7) are the only teams in the Championship that have conceded fewer than ten goals in 2022, and both will be looking to keep those numbers as low as possible during this game.
Team news
Blackpool could welcome back as many as four players for this fixture with Chris Maxwell, Richard Keogh, Matty Virtue and Keshi Anderson all potentially back in contention after injuries.
Defender Richard Keogh has already stated that he “should be available” for the game after recovering from a calf injury.
As reported by Lancashire Live, Keshi Anderson is in the final stages of recovery from a hamstring injury and will be hoping to return for this fixture.
Central midfielder Matty Virtue and goalkeeper Chris Maxwell have both been reported as ‘back on the grass’, though this match may come just a bit too soon for the duo.
However, Blackpool are likely to remain without the injured Jordan Gabriel, Sonny Carey, Luke Garbutt and Grant Ward for the Forest game.
Forest’s most recent Championship fixture against Queens Park Rangers left the Reds with another injury, ruling Scott McKenna out for at least a month with a hamstring injury.
"It is a blow for Scott because, as everyone will have seen, he has been having an outstanding season. To be stopped in his tracks by this is disappointing for him, more than anything. But hopefully he will be back sooner, rather than later,” Forest manager Steve Cooper said in his press conference.
"Scott will be out for four to five weeks. It is not ideal. But as we have said before when we have picked up injuries recently, these things happen, particularly at this stage of the season.”
The Scotsman will join fellow central defender Steve Cook and wing-back Max Lowe on the sidelines, with the pair also expected to be out for around five weeks. These recent injuries mean that Forest will be without three of their back five for at least a month.
Reds goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has given Brice Samba the task of earning the gloves back recently, and with the American qualifying for the World Cup in the early hours of Thursday morning, Steve Cooper may look to rest the USA international and give Samba the nod.
Lewis Grabban has been out since January with an ankle injury, but Cooper has recently claimed that the striker has made “good progress” and is now back in training. However, this Saturday's fixture may come too soon for the 34-year-old.
Predicted lineups
Blackpool: Grimshaw, Husband, Thorniley, Ekpiteta, Connolly, Sterling, Hamilton, Dougall, Stewart, Bowler, Madine
Nottingham Forest: Samba, Colback, Figueiredo, Worrall, Spence, Garner, Yates, Johnson, Zinckernagel, Lolley, Davis
Ones to watch
Madine scored the opener the last time these sides met and four of his last five Championship goals have contributed to wins for Blackpool.
The right-back has three goal involvements in his last two league appearances. Spence scored the equaliser during Forest’s last Championship game, leading the Reds to a crucial 3-1 win against QPR.
Previous meetings
The last time these two sides met was in October, where goals from Brennan Johnson and Lewis Grabban earned Forest a 2-1 win at the City Ground, taking away from Jerry Yates’ second half equaliser.
How to watch
The match is on Saturday, April 2, and will kick off at 12:30 BST. Coverage of the game will be available from 12:00 BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.