Instead of a 2.5-hour drive, they took a 15-minute flight. Then conceded four from second-tier strugglers
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 10.01.23. | 13:39
Nottingham Forest were heavily criticized for their choice of travel for the FA Cup tie. But it's not their biggest headache
Everything for the win. That's the logic behind almost every contemporary sport, especially regarding circumstances surrounding the game. If you want your team to win, you ought to do everything possible for them to have nothing but excellent conditions on and off the pitch.
That was probably why English Premier League side and two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest decided to take a plane instead of a bus for their FA Cup third-round tie with Blackpool. The driving distance between the two places is 221 kilometres or slightly more than two and a half hours. However, after talks with head coach Steve Cooper, the Forest board opted for a very short, 15-minute flight instead. Facing somewhat public criticism for this decision prior to the game, Cooper insisted:
"Whether right or wrong, it's pretty normal for a Premier League team."
Steve Cooper on Forest flying to Blackpool with the team coach picking them up from the airport, something which drew criticism for its environmental impact. #nffc pic.twitter.com/GoBtNsKeyq
— NottinghamForestLive (@NFFC_live) January 9, 2023
Which probably is, indeed. But not even that extra-quick flight couldn't help them with the EFL Championship strugglers, as Blackpool FC tarnished them 4-1.
When you have to fly to Blackpool from Nottingham just to get beat 4-1 👀😂😂 https://t.co/r2IKrEgfrM
— Lou Hawke ✌ (@Louhawke1994) January 8, 2023
As a matter of fact, it was 4-0 deep into stoppage time, so that Yates' late goal couldn't change a thing and served only as a small comfort.
Ah, if they only took that bus...
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