Holloway desperate to reach top flight

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway laughed off suggestions his side were "not ready" for the Barclays Premier League after the Seasiders took a 2-1 lead in the first leg of their Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

When asked whether his side, who were last in the top flight in 1971, would be better off spending another season in the Championship, Holloway countered: "Have you been drinking my friend? Are you deadly serious? How on earth, with that great big load of money that they get - and they get richer and richer every year - are we ever going to compete with them?

"So I've got to get there and I don't care if we take a thumping week in, week out, I don't care."

Blackpool, promoted via the League One play-offs in 2007, will defend a slender advantage at the City Ground on Tuesday after coming back from a goal down to cancel out Chris Cohen's thunderbolt, which had given Forest a 13th-minute lead.

Keith Southern levelled for Blackpool midway through the first half and Charlie Adam held his nerve to convert a 57th-minute penalty after DJ Campbell had been tripped by James Perch in the box.

Holloway, who insisted he has not been apprehensive about his side's chances, added the Seasiders would be going all out to attack Forest at the City Ground.

"I'm honestly not nervous. I'm not worried. I'm enjoying the thing because I'm pleased how the players are responding," he added. "I haven't got anything life-threatening happening to me so I'm absolutely buzzing. Proud of my team, proud of the colour and let's see what we can do on Tuesday because today was only ever going to be the half-time whistle.

"What are their stats like at home? I've got to be very wary of that. I don't think one goal's enough. We're going to have to score down there because I think they will, truthfully."