Keith Southern in bullish mood as Newcastle boss Chris Hughton tips the Seasiders for Championship play-offs - 10 years on from Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dipping into the archives to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

Ten years ago, Blackpool midfielder Keith Southern was in a bullish mood with just three games of the Championship campaign remaining...

Keith Southern says it is “all to play for” as Pool head into the final three games aiming to force their way into the play-off places.

No-one was more disappointed by the 4-1 defeat at Newcastle than Gateshead-born Southern, who supported the Magpies as a kid and was desperate to get a result at St James’ Park.

But the 28-year-old midfielder believes there will be more shocks in store before the season ends and says there is still time for the Seasiders to make the top six.

“Nothing was decided on Saturday – you only lose three points,” he said.

“There are still three games to play and nine points to fight for. We are still in there with a cracking shout.

“There are going to be twists and turns from now until the end of the season.

“I just think we have to keep our heads and go into each game now giving it our best shot.

“We will come in this week and start again, and we’ll look to pick up the three points against Nottingham Forest, it is as simple as that.

“There is no pressure. The manager hasn’t put any pressure on us whatsoever.

“He is proud of us this season, proud of the way we played, and he just wants us to finish the job now.”

There’s no doubt Pool’s next game at home to Forest is on paper the toughest.

After that they face a trip to Peterborough before hosting Bristol City on the final day.

Sixth-placed Swansea City, two points above Pool but with an inferior goal difference, have a trip to Sheffield United sandwiched between home games with Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers.

Leicester City, whose weekend win at Peterborough United stretched their advantage over Pool to four points, have home games with Watford and Middlesbrough and a trip to Preston North End.

Southern says there is no point trying to work out who has the toughest run of games.

He added: “If you look at it on paper, the neutrals would probably say Blackpool have the toughest finish.

“But in this league I’m not sure going to somewhere like Newcastle is any tougher than going to Sheffield United, Ipswich or Derby.

“Each game presents its own problems and it is all about how you apply yourself on the day. It is definitely still all to play for and it isn’t tense – it is exciting.

“We’ve got three games, three very tough games, but at the end of the day it is great to be in the position we are.

“How many times have Blackpool been on 63 points in the Championship with three games to play? What a wonderful feeling that is.

“Let’s not get too carried away with what we could maybe do in the last three games.

“But we are seventh, above a lot of teams with far bigger budgets and far greater spending power.

“So it’s credit to the boys that week in, week out they’ve given everything they’ve got.

“We’ve had the odd blip but more often than not we’ve got the results we wanted.”

The Seasiders switched their focus to their pivotal home game against Forest after being well-beaten by already-promoted Newcastle United at the weekend.

Despite the 4-1 reversal on Tyneside, Toon boss Chris Hughton believes the Seasiders have what it takes to make the top six.

“If I look at their team, I expect them to be in the playoffs,” said Hughton, whose team lost the reverse fixture 2-1 at Bloomfield Road in September.

“Their season has been a fair indication of what they’ve achieved. The league table doesn’t lie.”

As for Holloway, Hughton added: “ I know Ian. How you see him is how he is – a buoyant character.

“He enjoys life and football, and he makes the most of everything he’s got, which is also the message he gets to his players.

“You see it in his teams. Look at the job he’s done.

“They had a wonderful period, then a dip but then four straight wins.

“They have had wonderful season and they have a real chance of getting up.”

Pool take on Forest on Saturday, knowing they must take at least a point to keep the pressure on sixth-placed Swansea.

But it will be far from easy against a Forest side who stand third and have kept 20 clean sheets this season.

Their 3-0 win over Ipswich at the weekend guaranteed them a top-six finish – the third club manager Billy Davies has guided to the playoffs.

Forest assistant boss David Kelly said: “Billy’s experience will be vital because he has done it with three football clubs now. He takes an awful lot of credit because he has produced the goods at every club he has been at.

“Now we are in the play-offs, we want to go to Wembley and win.”

It means Forest won’t be taking it easy when they arrive at Bloomfield Road, and they will also be after revenge following Pool’s 1-0 victory at the City Ground in September.