A second-half penalty from Charlie Adam ensured that the Seasiders took a one-goal lead into the second leg of the play-off semi-final following a 2-1 victory over Forest.
Blackpool, backed by a very vocal crowd at Bloomfield Road, came from a goal down to put themselves in a good position ahead of Tuesday's visit to the City Ground.
A 25th minute equaliser from Keith Southern had initially cancelled out Chris Cohen's strike before Charlie Adam converted from the spot after 57 minutes after DJ Campbell was felled in the area.
Manager Ian Holloway opted to name an unchanged side for the visit of Billy Davies' men and his faith was to be rewarded.
The ball spent large parts of play in the air for the first minutes of the opening period as a swirling wind caused both sides problems.
Forest striker Nathan Tyson was the first player to try for goal, his attempt sailing over the bar from 20-yards out. Shortly after Ian Evatt became the first player to be booked for a late challenge on the same man.
A stoppage in play resumed following treatment to Nathan Tyson and the visitors pushed forward to gain the lead, Chris Cohen hitting the ball on the half-volley from outside the box and into the top corner of the net (13).
BLACKPOOL 0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1
The Seasiders had an immediate opportunity to try and find the equaliser, DJ Campbell, Keith Southern and Charlie Adam all finding themselves prevented by some last-ditch Forest defending.
Pressure was building on the visitors' defence to defend a succession of crosses and corners as Pool battled away to level matters.
Bloomfield Road erupted as the Seasiders did just that on the back of a mazy run from Seamus Coleman, the Everton loan man cutting inside and causing Forest plenty of problems. The Irishman laid the ball off to Ian Evatt who, in turn, found KEITH SOUTHERN to rifle the ball in via a deflection (25).
BLACKPOOL 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1
The game had now literally come alive as the visitors pushed forward again only to see Dexter Blackstock head against the bar and Natah Tyson sky the follow up. Paul Anderson then flashed an opportunity wide of the post as Forest looked to regain the lead.
Both sides were playing the final stages of the half as though it was the second leg, countering the other at quick speed.
The presence of Paul McKenna in midfield had added a lot more to the Forest engine room since the defeat at Bloomfield Road last month, but the sterling work of David Vaughan was more than a match for the former Preston player.
A goal line block from Seamus Coleman prevented Wes Morgan from giving Forest the lead at the interval ahead.
HALF-TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1
The Seasiders restarted on the front foot and had Billy Davies' side pegged back in their own half. Both Seamus Coleman and Dexter Blackstock were later booked following a skirmish in the final third.
Pool continued their dominance however and were to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 57th minute, DJ Campbell was felled in the area by James Perch after latching onto Brett Ormerod's pass. CHARLIE ADAM stepped up to send Lee Camp the wrong way and put the Seasiders ahead (57).
BLACKPOOL 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1
Forest looked to hit back immediately from a free-kick conceded by Ian Evatt on the edge of the Blackpool area but Cohen's effort failed to test Matt Gilks.
The game had now really opened up as both sides looked to take a decent scoreline into the second leg.
Dexter Blackstock headed narrowly wide as the visitors chased an equaliser, while DJ Campbell just got his angles wrong at the other end.
A break in play saw Gary Taylor-Fletcher receive treatment for a facial wound before being replaced by Ben Burgess. Forest opted to make a double substitution, Rob Earnshaw and David McGoldrick coming on for Dexter Blackstock and Radoslaw Majewski.
Another break in play saw Stephen Dobbie and Barry Bannan take to the field in place of Brett Ormerod and DJ Campbell.
The substitutions linked up immediately as Barry Bannan pounced on a poor kick from Lee Camp set Dobbie away. The striker had his own effort blocked before Ben Burgess fired wide.
A mazy run from David Vaughan forced Robert Earnshaw into conceding a free-kick outside the box with a minute of normal time remaining, but Charlie Adam's resulting effort failed to test Lee Camp.
Five minutes of added time were signalled by fourth official Chris Foy as the Seasiders looked to take a lead to the City Ground. It was an advantage they maintained.
FULL-TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1
Attendance: 11,805 (1,194)
