A Win, A Loss and a Draw

I’ve been somewhat lazy on the updating here lately, mixture of being more bust despite having more time and after some poor results a general indifference to bringing myself to discuss.

But when you consider the past month or so you have to think it doesn’t look too great. Drawing against Reading, and drawing against Millwall when it felt like we should have done more were rather frustrating, and even the win against Wednesday was rather underwhelming.

Reading was a game that was there for the taking, and the defeat felt like scant reward for the game. Cox though getting another goal is nice to see that the strikers are finally scoring. But that said we shouldn’t be losing. The defending didn’t feel great at times.

It feels so long ago I can barely remember the game against Reading but quickly re reading the m reports remind that we lost it in the first 20 minutes. So costly and not the first time we have looked awful in the first half and had to make changes to bring it back. At least Davies accepts he got wrong, but he’s getting wrong a lot more than he used to.

Cox and Henderson getting us back in the game felt like there would only be one winner and when Mackie hit the wood work it looked like it was going to happen, but Forest are Forest and we went down to Reading late on and it felt like a sucker punch but not completely unexpected.

The Millwall  game, well Millwall is always as a hard place to go so appoint is never to be sniffed at, but in reality we really needed to be getting back to form. We failed, but did come from behind twice and get the point, with Reid and Chalobah getting the goals. I didn’t see much or hear it as I was at a prior engagement that night, but I wasn’t totally displeased at losing.

The Wednesday game was one of the most forgettable games I think I have seen. It just wasn’t very entertaining at all, BUT it was a win. And right now we’d take that win. We were thoroughly entertained by the Reading game so a win means boredom and general mediocre football.

Cox scored again, so he is starting to show good form. Harding continues to look shaky at fullback, but as I say, it’s a win that keeps us in the top 6, and that’s where we need to be. There are fans of course still unhappy, and the form we have shown has been shaky. Had we had good form we could easily be challenging the top 2.

So all in all a mixed bag completely and utterly. You couldn’t to be honest get a more varied set, and the different games, but it perfectly sums up this season in a nice microcosm. Varied.  With positives, and glaring inadequacies, usually in defence.

Forest Fail to Crash the Party

Well Forest failed to go to Reading and ruin their big celebration, but it wasn't for the want of trying. The equivalent of hanging out in the kitchen all night at the party, being awkward until Reading scored in the 81st minute and the party could then get in full swing.

To be fair, with Coventry failing to win, meaning we were staying up regardless it made everything rather pointless, so fair play and congratulations to the Royals. I like Reading, and the fact they have stormed through late this season makes it all better. Well done Reading, again.

But we clung on for so long, and according to Robbie Savage on Five Live he couldn't understand why we are way down the table this season. Particularly impressive seemed Guedioura and Elokobi.

Leigertwood, Blackstock's Antigun team mate scored with a volley from a free kick from the wing, which as usual Forest failed to deal with. Like a blast from the season past.

And Elokobi was notable as he nearly scored an over head kick which would surely grab a lot of headlines, a big burley defender doing the near impossible. SO much so Guedioura was tweeting at Elokobi about it yesterday.

There were many chances for both teams throughout the game, and Reading had a goal ruled out by Roberts in the first half The battle of the 33's was one of the main halftime talking points for Radio 5, Savage and Pougatch both pointing to it being an entertaining battle nonetheless.

Forest had been close through good efforts from Blackstock and Guedioura, Guedioura with a trademark long range pile driver that the keeper took two efforts to get hold of.

Forest also nearly equalised late on when Tudgays header was cleared off the line, which would have given Forest a deserved share of the points. Readings win was perhaps somewhat harsh, but in the circumstances you can't really begrudge it.

And it could be a lesson of how to do things. Reading sold two key players and invested a minimal amount of that cash in the team and till had a side capable of leading at the top. Lessons that can be learnt.

Forest Rise to Beat Royals After Hull Slip

I have been fairly busy these past few days and have barely had a chance to be able to collect my thoughts, let alone put them down on page, so for that I am sorry and only now I can begin to talk about two very dour games. This should be easy, because there isn't that much to talk about.

The Hull game could have gone either way to be honest. Both teams not exactly playing at their best. Hull had a game plan to strangle the game and that they did. The chances were few are far between.

Hull of course ended our unbeaten run last season, and with two members of that squad on their bench in Adebola and McKenna it was possibly unsurprising that it was them that ended Cotterills admittedly short but pleasurable unbeaten start to Forest managership.

When of course those two came off the bench for the second half the fear is that either will score. In fact McKenna would set up the goal for Hull, after a particular unpleasurable bout of head tennis he nodded through for McLean to score for Hull, not long someone near me said that how rubbish he is compared to how he was at Peterborough, thanks for jinxing it.

That came after our best effort of the game which was a medium range left footed Majewski drive which the keeper saved. Probably our best effort of the game.

All in all not a classic but I have seen far worse games.

Which leads neatly on to Tuesdays night events, which really push that mantle of worst game ever close (which goes to Forest v Stoke on New Year’s Day a few years ago) it just had a feel of the both sides, both fans and even the officials not really being arsed to try. It would explain the ref’s inability to punish Reading for taking so long over throw ins early on.

Miller had of course mad way through injury for Findley to make a start, I hoped to see more use of his supposed pace, but I have yet to really see him outpace any defender in the way that Tyson and Darcheville used to.

This game as said was largely horrendous, with bad passing, especially from Moussi being a key component of both teams abject performance. We did have the ball in the net early through Tudgay, which was disallowed for offside, and McAnuff had a dipping cross that hit the bar, and that was largely that, with the crowd fairly disgruntled but no unhappy enough to boo at half time.

The second half saw Reid replace Majewski and it created new options, for one the ability of someone to cross which had been missing. Tudgay had one shot on target from range in the second half of note, and not else much else sticks out till Tudgay scored. McGugan fed Chambers, who crossed for Tudgay to take it down swivel and finish.

Reading at the death, and let’s remember that Reading and at the death are phrases that nearly haunted us last season when they came back and nicked a game last season in that particularly ropey run in early spring when our playoff hopes looked to be imploding) Hunt had a close range header which Camp parried well away from goal to maintain our win. Three wins in four is a commendable record regardless for any manager, but when we were so poor before it speaks volumes for the way Cotterill has silenced early critics.

All in all two forgettable games, but progress is visible for all to see.

Post Burnley Podcast

A double bill because the Reading recording failed. We discuss the two matches,Cohens red card and other nonsense.

Download from here
http://www.sendspace.com/file/z2lnwc

Or use our youtube embededness here

Poor Defence Costs Forest Dear Against Reading

On a sun drenched day at City Ground, Forest lost to Reading in dramatic and heart wrenching fashion. It was however not really surprising. For a neutral this must have been a real spectacle. 4-3 and a missed penalty. Had we won, I'd say it was a classic.

Reading were good value for their win, every attack looked dangerous, specifically down the right flank. Kebe gave Lynch a torrid afternoon. It's hard sitting in here a few hours later thinking of even where to start dissecting what wrong for Forest. We scored 3 goals, that is the one good side for a team that has struggled in front of goal of late, although admittedly two were penalties,you still have to be in the right end to get a penalty.

We lined up in a good old fashioned 4-4-2 but with wingers that would switch. Moussi being back in the defensive midfield role was a welcome boost and we need him to get fully match fit soon.



Defensively itdid all gowrong, it opened up in frontof Reading too often. In Long they have a striker who is a constant danger. Indeed it was Long who won the free kick which Reading would score from. Long running across the edge of the 18 yard box away from goal, went down, the referee adjudging a clip on the heels from Gunter. Long went down very easily, and the ref fell for the dive. Ian Harte of curse is a free kick specialist. He neeted the free kick, the left footed drive from 19 yards beating Camp.

The Forest equaliser came from a penalty. McGugan on the right wing swivelling and falling over the defenders leg. At first the ref looked like he wasn't going to award the penalty, but the linesman was flagging,and the ref awarded it. McGugan initially seized the ball to take the kick, but Boyd instead was to take the penalty. A well taken powerful strike into the bottom left hand corner.

And so 1-1 at half time. Probabaly fair enough. Forest had looked good in parts. Moussi returning had bolstered the midfield. Boyd was looking better than he had, certainly more mobile than against Leeds.

The second half would be spectacular. A lovely move by Forest from one end to the other finished by Earnshaw. Forest had swept forward, and there was excellent work down the left wing, leading to Earnshaw firing from on the left hand side of the area from around 12 yards. At this stage I felt ecstatic. And was tweeting my review of the goal and therefore missed Readings quick reply. Reading scoring from a Harte taken corner with a header by Jem Karacan.

Then again a few minutes later Reading would score again. Kebe netting after a shot was parried by Camp, Kebe finished with a near open goal into the centre of the net. He removed his shirt in celebration and was booked. This prompted Forest into a round of subs. Tyson and Konchesky on in an attempt to bolster the left side of the pitch which had been weak. Moussi went off on his return. McCleary switched back to the right and Tyson playing down the left.

Previosuly to the Reading goal Earnshaw was booked when he nicked the ball off the keeper in a drop kick situation. To be fair to Earnie, the keeper did not have control of the ball as he tossed the ball up kick, Earnie whisked it away. Technically the keeper was not in control of the ball, and Earnie was legitimate in his action. However, these types of goal are never going to be allowed, and Earnshaw was booked for unsporting behaviour.

After a lot of endeavour and a previously turned down penalty appeal (which I think was stone wall,with Adebola being felled in the area) Forest did get another penalty. Gunter was felled by the sub Robson-Kanu and McGugan stepped up to bring Forest level. Elation poured out in the City Ground. We were back in it, and probably deservedly. We obviously forget the lesson learned in the Preston game. Do not think a late goal is job done.

Reading would retake the lead and the win. An attack down the right again, and then a certain amount of debate between some sources about who scored. Chambers with an own goal or Simon Church. Being sat in the Trent End and without the Championship having been on yet, I can't be sure. What is sure is that it was a killer blow to Forest. It knocked all the stuffing out of us, and as a large swathe of Red seats were exposed by an exodus of Forest fans.

Reading then also won a penalty for handball by Gunter. Long, the villain of the piece stepped upand Camp saved! A good saveto his right too, and suddenly Forest weren't quite so dead and buried. Well,yes we were as there was barely time to get the ball up field.

And so Forests playoff hopes are left hanging by a thread. It was a painful defeat to endure. It almost felt like the playoff semi final defeats for the manner of our capitulation. Preston was a few weeks ago and it seems the same ghosts are lurking. Davies post-match talked about naiveity and it showed. The team were and had been all match making many an error. Defensively it looked horrendous. 11 goals in 3 games is dire form. We were ripped to shreads far too easily by Reading. We didn't create too many clear cut efforts in this game, so without the penalties, we had one goal from open play that was well crafted.

It leaves us in a precarious position now. Down to 8th, behind even Millwall now. Two big games this week will decide the season. For some fans on matchline which I have often said is the domain of the lunatic fringe to be calling for Davies head is laughable. Do people not remember where we were prior to his arrival? Again I have seen the usual anti board moans. People just want someone to blame and they are a very easy target

Moussi and Konch MAY Be Back

Word on the street is Moussi may well be back for Saturday. However,what with him only just returning to fitness after a long term injury lay off, it remains to be seen if he will be in a position to start the game.

Konchesky may well be ready to come back, however Lynch at least offers a good back up, whereas in the case of Moussi, thee is no one else to cover in the central midfield.

Earnshaw and Tyson might well be in positions to start. However the bad nes is that Anderson may well be out for longer than previously thought. Anderson might well be out for the rest of the season rather than the previously hoped few days.

In the hunt for a return to form, Forest need to have players returning to the team now. Baring in mind Moussi takes a while to return to form on previous evidence that might not be any time soon. We still have to see anything of Findley, who was out for 2-3 months back at the start of February.Hopefully he is approaching a return to the team.

None of them played for the reserves the other night, which would have been perfect to bring up their match fitness. So it is hard to tell if these players are close. What is obvious is we have very limited holding midfield options. We can't play a midfield without one despite what I have seen some misguided fools think on various Forums