Holloway's side have been widely regarded as the ones with least chance of survival should they reach the top flight out of the four teams to contest this season's play-offs.

But Blackpool, promoted via the League One play-offs in 2007, will defend a slender advantage at the City Ground on Tuesday after coming back from a goal down to cancel out Chris Cohen's thunderbolt, which had given Forest a 13th-minute lead.

Keith Southern levelled for Blackpool midway through the first half and Charlie Adam held his nerve to convert a 57th-minute penalty after DJ Campbell had been tripped by James Perch in the box.

When asked whether his side, who were last in the top flight in 1971, would be better off spending another season in the Championship, Holloway countered: "Have you been drinking my friend? Are you deadly serious?

"How on earth, with that great big load of money that they get - and they get richer and richer every year - are we ever going to compete with them?

"So I've got to get there and I don't care if we take a thumping week in, week out, I don't care."

Holloway, who insisted he has not been apprehensive about his side's chances, added the Seasiders would be going all out to attack Forest at the City Ground.

He said: "I'm honestly not nervous. I'm not worried. I'm enjoying the thing because I'm pleased how the players are responding.

"I haven't got anything life-threatening happening to me so I'm absolutely buzzing. Proud of my team, proud of the colour and let's see what we can do on Tuesday because today was only ever going to be the half-time whistle.

"What are their stats like at home? I've got to be very wary of that. I don't think one goal's enough. We're going to have to score down there because I think they will, truthfully.

"So we've got to try and out-score them or get even. If we can get even we've done it. Now I'd have taken that at the start of the game.

"We've got the bigger worries because they're so good at home. We've got to go there and stop them attacking and attacking and attacking.

"So I'm going to go there and attack and attack and attack and score. I guarantee you that now, I'm not going to worry about trying to defend a lead.

"You cannot do that at Notts Forest. You can't do it, they're too good at home."

Forest manager Billy Davies felt his side had created enough first-half chances to have been out of sight at half-time.

Davies said: "Do I think we deserved a draw? I think the first 45 minutes we should have been three or four up. We hit the bar and had one cleared off the line, we've had chance after chance.

"Never mind a draw we should have won it. But that's what happens when you're not clinical."

Davies, who steered Derby to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2007, only to be sacked four months later, added: "In the play-offs it's all about getting to the second game with an opportunity to put yourself in the final and we've done that."