A stunning hat-trick from DJ Campbell inspired Blackpool to victory over Nottingham Forest to book their place in the Championship play-off final.
First career treble sinks Forest after spirited second-leg battle
A stunning hat-trick from DJ Campbell inspired Blackpool to a 4-3 victory over Nottingham Forest to hand the Seasiders a shot at winning promotion to the Premier League following a breathless play-off second leg at the City Ground.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher nearly smashed home a spectacular opener for the visitors, however Radoslaw Majewski slipped in Rob Earnshaw to haul his team level in the tie by finding the bottom corner with seven minutes gone.
But with the hosts in the ascendency, Ian Holloway's team struck on the break in the 56th minute to go back in front when Campbell dinked the ball over the on-rushing Lee Camp to score in the deftest of fashions.
Forest continued to plug away and Earnshaw displayed his predatory instincts to smash into the roof of the net from six yards out, however substitute Stephen Dobbie saw his long-range hit take a huge deflection off the unfortunate Wes Morgan to make it 2-2.
And as gaps appeared in the Forest defence, Campbell popped up again on 76 minutes to curl home a sublime left-footed effort, before pouncing on a loose ball to send his side to Wembley with the first treble of his career.
Dele Adebola tucked home a consolation for Forest in stoppage time, but it is Blackpool who will take on either Leicester or Cardiff for a place in the top flight after their 6-4 aggregate success.
Last-ditch
Forest made one change from the first leg with leading scorer Earnshaw recalled at the expense of midfielder Paul Anderson, who dropped down to the bench.
Blackpool boss Holloway named the same starting XI.
The first chance came after six minutes. Taylor-Fletcher chested the ball into the path of Brett Ormerod whose 25-yard volley dipped just over the crossbar.
A minute later Forest took the lead and levelled up the tie on aggregate.
Nottingham-born defender Alex Baptiste slipped trying to intercept Majewksi's reverse pass and Earnshaw fired a left-foot shot across Matt Gilks and into the far corner.
Earnshaw threatened again soon afterwards but Baptiste made amends with a last-ditch sliding tackle to thwart the Wales international.
A fine fingertip save from Camp to flick Charlie Adam's long-range shot over the crossbar midway through the first half preserved Forest's lead on the night.
Chris Cohen came close to making it 2-0 when his low shot from the edge of the area had Gilks scrambling across his goal but the ball rolled just wide of the post.
Dexter Blackstock failed to provide the finish a flowing Forest move deserved on the half-hour.
Some fine one-touch football involving Cohen, Earnshaw and Blackstock saw Forest advance to the edge of the Blackpool box but Blackstock's shot was weak and straight at Gilks.
Earnshaw thought he had scored his and Forest's second goal of the night a minute after the restart.
The diminutive striker lifted the ball over the advancing Gilks after being put through by Blackstock but the assistant referee, somewhat belatedly, raised his flag for offside.
Advantage
Blackpool equalised and regained the advantage after 56 minutes.
Taylor-Fletcher's angled through ball released Campbell down the right side of the box and the on-loan Leicester striker deftly dinked the ball over the advancing Camp.
Earnshaw blasted the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards after 66 minutes to level up the tie at 3-3.
Dobbie, a 69th-minute substitute, made it 3-2 to Blackpool on the night when his shot from the edge of the area went in off Morgan after 72 minutes.
Gilks denied Blackstock with his feet before Earnshaw's goalbound follow-up was blocked inside the six-yard box by a Blackpool defender.
Dobbie played a one-two with Campbell and he finished calmly to put Blackpool in command with 13 minutes remaining.
Campbell then completed his hat-trick soon afterwards after Camp could only push Dobbie's shot into his path.
Campbell struck the bar in the 90th minute before Adebola tapped home from close range to complete the scoring.
