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DJ Campbell a doubt for play-offs
POOL'S joy at reaching the Championship play-offs has been tempered by the news that DJ Campbell is a doubt for Saturday's first leg against Nottingham Forest at Bloomfield Road.
Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City proved more than enough to secure sixth spot and a shot at the Premier League because Swansea could manage only a goalless draw with Doncaster.
It sparked joyous celebrations among Pool's sell-out crowd of 12,296 – the best since the 1970s – with the team returning to the pitch to do a lap of honour.
But seven-goal striker Campbell was forced off early in the second half after landing awkwardly on his arm attempting an overhead kick.
He has suffered soft tissue damage, which Ian Holloway admits is a major concern.
"He did an overhead kick just before the break and when he landed his arm went the wrong way. It bent backwards," said the boss.
"He has hyper-extended it according to my physio. It doesn't need an X-ray but it is painful.
"He could hardly move it when he came back out for the second half, and if you try and run with only one arm it isn't easy when you're used to running with two.
"It's a worry because his goals have been vital to us and let's hope he recovers."
The home leg against Billy Davies' Forest kicks off at 12.45pm on Saturday, with the return at the City Ground on Tuesday week at 7.45pm.
Pool have already done the double over Forest this season and are the form team going into the play-offs – their only defeat in their last nine games was away to champions Newcastle.
Holloway heaped all the praise on his players. "Well done to every one of them and I want to thank them because they've been absolutely brilliant ever since day one," he said.
"I should also thank them because I walked in here after having been without a job for a year, and it must have been unbelievably hard for them because I haven't stopped talking!
"My enthusiasm was limitless, and I bet they are fed up and could do with going off on holiday.
"But I'm sure that however long we can extend this they will have as good a time as I will.
"I'm just pleased with the way these lads have handled themselves over the last few weeks because our results have been absolutely phenomenal.
"To beat the teams we have in recent weeks takes some doing when you need to get results to stay in with a chance.
"Against Bristol City we were a bit more nervous than usual because we knew we could slip out of the top six.
"Luckily for me we got over our nervous bit and we showed what we can do in the second half.
"But we need to forget the nerves now. We've done a fantastic thing. Our fans are going to have a party anyway, so let's really enjoy this ride over the next few weeks.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
