IN football, fine margins can divide success and failure.
In May 2010, Lee Trundle had a late, late goal disallowed for a supposed handball as Sean O'Driscoll's Doncaster side clung on for a 0-0 draw at Swansea.
O'Driscoll admits it was something of a controversial decision to rule out the goal, which would have condemned Doncaster to defeat – and propelled the Welsh side into the final play-off place.
Instead it was Blackpool who snatched sixth place in the table, right at the last – and the rest is history.
Ian Holloway's side went on to outclass Forest over two legs in the play-offs, before securing a place in the Premier League at Wembley.
Their adventure in the top flight was a short one, but the money it brought in continues to make Blackpool a force to be reckoned with in the Championship.
And O'Driscoll is expecting a tough challenge as he prepares to take his Forest side to Bloomfield Road tonight.
"It is a fantastic story. We drew with Swansea in the final game of the season, when Blackpool went up," he said.
"It meant that Swansea did not get into the play-offs and Blackpool did.
"Swansea scored a late goal against us but it was disallowed by the referee. It was a controversial decision at the time.
"Careers and reputations are decided on really small margins and, if the referee had given the goal, Blackpool would not have been in the play-offs.
"But that is history now."
Blackpool have assembled a strong squad of players.
But O'Driscoll believes it is their unpredictability that is their biggest strength.
"Ian has them playing in a way that is really unpredictable. You don't really know what sort of team you are going to face," he said.
"He has a habit of making five or six changes to his side at times and then making two or three changes, bringing on attacking players, during matches.
"It is a formula that has worked really well for them, they have been successful and deserve credit.
"We had two weeks to prepare for Cardiff, we have had 48 hours to prepare for this one.
"We need to make sure the principles remain the same.
"But it will be a different challenge against an unpredictable Blackpool attack.
"They rotate, they have really good movement.
"Tuesday night at Bloomfield Road is a bit like Palace at Selhurst Park in midweek – Blackpool have a really good record in those fixtures.
"You know it is going to be a difficult game. They will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They can win games anywhere in this league.
"They are a dangerous team. If I had a choice, I would have opted to have two weeks to prepare for this one, rather than the Cardiff game.
"We need to make sure we have plan A, B and C in place, because they are unpredictable."
Forest go into the match on the back of a three-match unbeaten run that has seen them claim a draw against Blackburn in a match they dominated and beat Peterborough and Cardiff.
But O'Driscoll says his side must continue to work hard to improve.
"You are never on a completely upward curve. It is always up and down in this game," he said.
"You can progress and then you can take two steps back. You just have to keep doing what you believe is right.
"You cannot deviate from what you believe is the right way to do things.
"You have to show commitment to what you believe is right. You have to lead by example. Win, lose or draw, you approach the next game in the same manner."
Forest's confidence will have been boosted by the win over Cardiff in particular – and by the sight of Billy Sharp netting his first goal for the club.
But O'Driscoll believes it is team effort that will keep the goals coming for the Reds.
"The fact that Billy got a goal is massive," he said. "It was a good finish from him as well, which will also help.
"Players thrive on confidence and his should be good.
"Dexter Blackstock coming back from suspension is a big plus as well. He will give us another option.
"But we do not fixate on goals, we look at the chances we are creating. As long as you have that, the goals will come."
Tonight, a Forest win would not decide their promotion fate, nor that of Blackpool.
But, if they can claim another three points, it could edge them just a little closer to achieving their own Premier League dream.
