Blackpool boss Ian Holloway dismissed suggestions his side were "not ready" for the Barclays Premier League after the Seasiders narrow a 2-1 win 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."

Holloway added the Seasiders would be going all out to attack Forest at the City Ground.

He said: "I'm honestly not nervous. I'm not worried. I'm enjoying the thing because I'm pleased how the players are responding.

"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.

"So we've got to try and out-score them or get even. If we can get even we've done it. Now I'd have taken that at the start of the game.

"We've got the bigger worries because they're so good at home. We've got to go there and stop them attacking and attacking and attacking.

"So I'm going to go there and attack and attack and attack and score. I guarantee you that now, I'm not going to worry about trying to defend a lead.

"You cannot do that at Notts Forest. You can't do it, they're too good at home."