Keogh gets the point for Tangerines
Debutant Andy Keogh rescued under-fire Blackpool as he scored a last-gasp leveller in a 1-1 draw against high-flying Nottingham Forest.
Forest may have extended their unbeaten run to 15 games at Bloomfield Road as Jamaal Lascelles scored before the break but Keogh had the last laugh.
The Seasiders' season is in tatters following a run of 13 matches without a win in all competitions and their challenge against Forest was not helped by the absence of star striker Tom Ince on loan at Crystal Palace.
Lascelles scored minutes before the half-time interval at the expense of Blackpool, who have now taken just three points from the last 39 on offer - but Keogh ensured it was not all doom and gloom for the home side.
Two sides at opposite ends of the Championship table played out a very even first half at Bloomfield Road.
Billy Davies' Forest, who have lost fewer games on their travels than any other Championship side, had the first real attack as sloppy play from David Perkins gifted the ball to Andy Reid after five minutes. He ran at the Blackpool defence and won a free-kick 25 yards out.
Reid curled the free-kick to the far post where it was met by Greg Halford, who was superbly denied from six yards by Matt Gilks diving away to his left.
Both sides continued to threaten in an end-to-end opening 20 minutes, David Perkins broke in behind Forest, latching on to a Tony McMahon chip and firing a ball across the box where no Blackpool player had anticipated the cross.
All the noise in the stadium came from the Forest fans and it was the away side who began to dominate with Fox and Reid particularly dangerous down the left.
Blackpool found their feet on the half-hour mark and forced their best opening with a short corner to McMahon who fired just wide of the far post.
After a period of little action, Reid got some space down the left in the 42nd minute but his final ball from the edge of the box was wasteful.
Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time as a Reid free-kick from the left was met by Lascelles who poked low to the right of Gilks.
Blackpool called Karl Darlow into meaningful action for the first time after 51 minutes as Keogh hit a driven shot from the left which was pushed wide by the Forest keeper.
Forest came close to doubling their advantage after 61 minutes as a delightful Reid chip found Jamie Mackie in space - and his cross just evaded the onrushing Simon Cox six yards out.
Blackpool caretaker manager Barry Ferguson made a triple substitution on 65 minutes to try to get his side back into the game.
It almost paid instant dividends as David Goodwillie headed just wide of the right hand post with his first touch from a McMahon cross from the right.
The home side continued to threaten as another substitute Andy Halliday forced Darlow to save his 25-yard shot down low with 20 minutes remaining.
Forest almost struck against the run of play as Cox slid onto the end of a left wing cross, deflecting the ball just wide of Gilks' left hand post in the 76th minute.
Blackpool were the team on top though and Keogh had a great chance to equalise for the home side - but saw his shot from 12 yards blocked.
However, the home side saw their pressure tell in the 85th minute as Jack Robinson broke down the left and crossed to the far post, where Keogh nodded back across goal into the net.
Forest survived late penalty claims as McMahon was upended by Fox but referee Carl Boyeson waved away the protests.
Source: PA
