Playoff Dream Over. Again

Nottingham Forest have continued their awful run in the play offs with defeat at Swansea last night in what was an enthralling contest. The Reds fell behind 2-0 before battering the Swansea goal in the second half, before finally scoring with ten minutes left. The dream was ended in extra time by long term target Darren Pratley who scored from half way when Camp had gone up for a corner.

That opening paragraph barely covers the full story in trying to start this article with an overview of a game that was as usual for the Reds in the Play offs, action packed. Second legs of our play off matches should come with health warnings now. I watch the hairs physically grey in front of my eyes on some people sat around me.

For a neutral that must have been exhilarating watching. Goals, penalty appeals, posts and bars hit, repeatedly. Questionable reffing one again from a topflight referee. It was as good an advert for the Championship as you could get, it's just a shame it all ended in the wrong manner.



Davies sprang a surprise with his team selection by selecting Tyson. Opting for the electric pace up front, rather than the finishing of Earnshaw. And it nearly worked early on,when Tyson raced clear, making the defender look static before squaring a great ball to McGoldrick, who's left footed shot clipped the top of the bar.

Not long after Swansea went up the other end with a good chance. Sinclair had got in down the left and fizzed the ball across the area, where no-one was to put it in. If they had been it would have undoubtedly been 1-0 there and then. Forest went up the other end and nearly scored with a McGoldrick flick from a free kick put in. The flick went straight at de Vries,and had it been one foot either way it would have been in. At this stage too Moussi was consistently giving the ball away after winning it back.It encompassed all that is frustrating about the Frenchmans game.

Swansea then had two very good chances. Rangel first bursting into the box and providing a defenders finish by blazing it wide, before Borini had a wonderful effort come off the bar. The came the first penalty appeal. McGugan moving into the area was having his shirt clearly pulled by Tate in the Swansea defence. Marriner, didn't flinch,nothing given. Even Warnock at half time said it was a penalty and he hates Forest. Then 1 minute later Gunter was booked for the same offence. Guess they just aren't given in the area.

And then Swansea scored. Twice in five minutes. First Britton scored a lovely goal. A curling finish Camp didn't even move for. Tudgay should have defended better,but you can't detract from what was a great finish. Then five minutes later Dobbie,who was a key member of the Blackpool team who demolished Forest last year scythed through the defence, nutmegging Chambers and finished low into the bottom right hand corner, and Forests fans hearts all collectively sank.

Just before half time came another penalty appeal when Rangel and Tyson tussled. Borini also had a good shot well saved by Camp, and that was that. 2-0 at half time and we looked dead and buried. I consoled myself with beer during half time whilst being shocked that I agreed with a lot of what Warnock was saying in the studio. He really does have a triangular head.

As the second half came to life so did Forest. Tyson had again used his electric pace to get away from the defenders and squared the ball back to the edge of the D, where Tudgay blazed over with his left foot. He might have had time to get it on his favoured foot.

Just before the hour and the woodwork was hit again. A free kick right on the edge of the area,McGugan stepped up and smacked it off the bar. So close again to that elusive goal which would have given us hope. Swansea then had a chance to finish it,when Pratley who had just come missed a free header in the box from close in.Completely unmarked,it was shambolic defending from the Reds. My friend told me of course Pratley would miss, he's signed a pre contract deal with us. I remained sceptical.

Forest made changes. Majewski, Boyd and Earnshaw were all introduced over the next 10-15 minutes. Tudgay, Tyson and McGoldrick being removed. And on 80 minutes it paid dividends. Majewski put in a gorgeous ball, and Earnshaw did what he did best, getting away from his man and finishing into the corner of the goal with a great finish. It was game on now. Forest had been pounding on the Swansea door and we now had a foot in it.

The last 4-5minutes were torture. Earnshaw hit the post, a matter of inches and it would have been 2-2.Knowing the way we have played after getting back in games, we'd have blown it anyway. But by god it was close. And then Camp started coming for corners. On one of them the ball came to Earnshaw again who tried to put the ball in and it seemed to hit Williams on the arm. I felt sure it did but I haven't seen it again. But then the game was ended.

The ball fell to McGugan as it came out of the area,but he slipped and Swansea had possession. Pratley ran it to halfway,were he shot from, and with Camp up the other end, the net was empty. Swansea had restored the two goal lead and Forest were beaten. Again it was painful, as it has been each and every occasion in the play offs. This time though, we never led the tie like before.

My brother being a neutral, told me later that it was an amazing match. It was amazing for me too as a Forest fan with a huge vested interest.But by god that last 10-15 minutes were a mixture of exhilarating and confusing. Horrorfying and compelling. Painful but memorable. We simply don't do bland second legs in the playoffs. We should be given a fee pass to them to provide the country with entertainment.

It was frustrating that we allowed ourselves to concede essentially two sloppy goals. But we can be ever so proud of that second half performance. A different ref and we may have had one of those penalties. The Swansea posts and crossbars will need a new lick of paint, after our battering of them. I will say this though,over two legs the Swans deserve it and I say fair play to them. They are a good team and I hope they go up. I couldn't stand to see Cardiff there.

So another season draws to an end with another painful ending. But I can't wait for the next one. That might be the last we see of Messrs Earnshaw, Tyson, Moussi, Bennett all of whom are out of contract. I hope its not the last we have of Billy.

Post Swansea First Leg Podcast

Here is the latest version of the Forest 24-7 podcast, recorded after the 0-0 draw with Swansea in the Playoffs First Leg.

As usual it available to download or to"watch" via Youtube

WMA version
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hauev6


Youtube Version

Seconds Out...Round 2

So the first leg has come and gone, and though we all feel we should have done better, we are in this tie.

Those fans of other teams who enjoy attempting to wind up Forest, they say that was our best chance and we will get turned over. But lets remember that second legs and Forest in the playoffs don't go to plan. They don't follow form books. And they don't make sense.

We have to go for it, there's no two ways about that, but we still have to be careful. Had we had a lead I fear we would simply have tried to defend it. And if we did that and invited Swansea onto us, well we would probably get stuffed.

No-one gives us a hope outside of the club. That's fine with me. I'm used to being wound up now with a taunt of "Nottingham Forest F***ed it up again. at least time we have never had that period of ascendancy.

The pressure is off. At half time it is all to play for. We know very well we can beat anyone on our day, and if we have Moussi and Findley back that could be something to tip the balance. Findley is largely an unknown quantity still to us,so never mind opposing defences. I think it would certainly be worth the risk should he be passed fit. What we have been told and what I saw at the World Cup is that he has frightening pace. Added to the fact Earnshaw has been terrible of late,with some awful finishing or greedy play when passing might be better than shooting.

Swansea may freeze a little, nervous that everything is expected of them. They will be confident. At the moment it is unsure whether Taylor will be back. The man who was sent off correctly, is having his red card appealed. To the Welsh FA. How is this fair, of course they will push it through. Borini may be out with the injury that forced him off. That would be good as he his a dangerous striker.

What we have to remember is that there are 90 minutes, maybe 120 to play. It is all to play for

Forest Fail To Break Down Resolute 10 Men Swansea

I approached the game with a great amount of trepidation, as borne out in previous articles discussing my fears and worry about the game. The result overall,well not a disaster. a 0-0 draw against anyone of Swansea's ability is not to be sniffed at.

What is is though is the manner in which Forest drew a stalemate with a team who played with 10 men for 89minutes. After the early horrendous challenge by Taylor, Forest should really have took hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and taken it to the Swans.

However they seemed confused at the prospect of playing Ten Men rather than the Eleven they had done so much work on before. Swansea are a hard to to break down anyway, but with Ten men it became damage limitation. But coupled with the lightning pace and trickery on each wing they could attack you quickly.

Another problem that seemed to be occurring to me was Camps inability to kick the ball.Only once, maybe twice did he launch the ball. I' not an advocate of the long ball, but when it was played short each time, we had the defence facing 10 men to break down, with a line of the back four, that's essentially a very difficult prospect. If Camp had been able to launch it, we may have got attacks going more quickly.

Swansea in fact possibly had the best effort of the first half. A free kick which Borini sent in,tipped over the bar by Camp. At the other end de Vries saved well from Earnshaw when the ball was centred.

It had been cagey, it had been dull if I am honest, but it was mostly frustrating. Forest passed the ball well enough, but never with a sense of urgency, or a killer through ball. It wasn't helped by the front line largely being static.

The second half was a little more open, especially after the substitutions came, and I must say they came 10 minutes too late for the Reds. There seemed an unwillingness to drive at players on the wing.Neither flank got past their man much to deliver crosses. When they did come, largely in the end from corners they were too deep or too short.

Save for one which Earnshaw turned in, only to be flagged offside.Was the ball going in anyway? Who knows. From where I was it looked it was, but my position high in the Trent End is not always the best angle to judge the flight of the ball.

McGugan had has rasping shot turned away by de Vries, and a few other pot shots came to no avail. Then of course there was Cohen's effort. Having now seen the TV replay I don;t understand why this was not given. The defender (Tait?)had his arms raised as the shot hit him, clearly,on the arm, and Mike Dean waved it away. This for me was a bad decision, a blatant penalty in my opinion.

McCleary, Tyson and Tudgay all came on,Tudgay was ineffectual, but the other too ran a bit more than had been and tried to take men on, but to often it was round the edge of the tightly packed penalty area. Swansea filling it up with bodies to deny a ball into the box.

It was a great rearguard performance by the Swans. They can be proud of their 0-0.We can hold our heads high. We didn't ashame ourselves, but it could and should have been so much more. Definitely an opportunity missed. But there is still Monday.For those Swansea fans singing of Wembley at the end, Forest fans can teach you all to well the perils of presuming a good first leg result means that Wembley is near assured. They don't call this a lottery for nothing

Lacklustre Forest Slip Up Again

Since this sites formation last September, we’ve never been one to criticise the team and have always been one to encourage belief when the heads are down. But last Saturday’s trip to Swansea was enough to push even the most optimistic fan to the edge.

Another shambolic performance, with the only positives about Forest being they looked good in the stoppage time of both halves. Other than that they were completely outplayed by a fantastic Swansea team.

Out went Earnshaw, Tudgay and last week’s scapegoat McCleary while Tyson, Anderson and Kris Boyd came in to line up as follows:

The game didn’t look great early on. Forest was standing off their men and was allowing the likes of Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer to run at them – not a good idea at all when they’re considerably faster than our defence. There was even a clear penalty turned away after 3 minutes, an incredibly lucky let off.

I have to say I think it’s the effect of not having a decent midfield without Moussi holding us up. Without Moussi, our midfield is almost non-existent and leaves all the pressure on our back 4.

It was no surprise that after the initial Swans pressure they broke the deadlock on the 21^st minute. Wes went on one of his infamous runs into the opposition half which led to him being tackled and the ball looped into the path of Scott Sinclair on the right hand side. Sinclair went on one of his mazy runs as he took the ball round McKenna, Gunter, Chambers, Gunter again, Konchesky before sliding it into the bottom corner of Lee Camp’s goal. It was a superb goal but I can’t help but think there were plenty of opportunities for someone to put a tackle in.

Swansea had the advantage and 5 minutes later they had themselves another goal. A cutting through ball found Angel Rangel making a run behind our left hand side. He managed to get onto the ball and get it inside the box cue mass panic from the people he skipped past. He cut the ball back into the path of debutant Fabio Borini who has a shot blocked before holding onto it and looping it over Camp. No surprise half the team was sat on their arse. More shoddy defending.

Forest pushed on but to no avail and once again Swansea nearly bagged another goal to kill the game. Persistent standing off the man resulted in Nathan Dyer teeing up Borini, who smashed it at the post. It should have been game, set and match Swansea.

Despite the lacklustre display thus far Forest managed to create some form of chance. A cross into Boyd’s path from Tyson resulted in a narrow miss that De Vries would have been relieved to see edge past his post.

Moments later though, the same pairing linked up again to get Forest a goal. Anderson’s through ball found Tyson in the box who cut it back for Boyd. Kris took a couple of touches before smashing it past De Vries at his near post. It was totally undeserved but was the life line we needed.

At half time, the goal prompted me to put a tenner on Forest to win – sadly I believe in this club that much.

Sadly we didn’t come out with the same commitment that we ended the half with as Sinclair and Dyer continued to give our back four an absolute mare.

Within 11 minutes of the restart, Sinclair had cut inside the small gap between McKenna and Morgan before smashing a shot at Camp. Camp saved it but the rebound fell to Borini who was all too happy to steer in his second of the day. Sinclair was truly breathtaking on the day and had practically messed up my bet – I will be expecting Billy to refund this having watched ‘Take It Like A Fan’ on Sky Sports on Friday of which he won himself a tenner.

Like in the first half, the goal didn’t make us buck our ideas up and Dyer forced Camp into a tremendous stop, before another mazy Sinclair run ripped apart the backline as he went onto fire high and over.

Then came a ‘Laurel and Hardy’ moment from Camp and Chambers, which had every Forest fan cringing. Chambers took the ball to the left hand side before promptly smashing the ball at Dyer who was passed the ball to Borini who was one on one with Camp. He rounded Camp but hit the side netting – it was truly comical and simply not good enough from either.

Once again though, Forest came to life in the second minute of injury time. Sub, McCleary skipped past Van Der Gun and ran into the box cutting it back for Ando, who put it past De Vries. A consolation goal, surely?

Well yes it was, but a minute later things could have been so different. With Forest going all out attack, Gunter took a quick thrown in and found Cohen who whipped it into the box. Anderson got his head onto the cross but could only flick the ball onto the post. It was heart stopping but would have been totally undeserved, daylight robbery even.

That said, I did agree with Davies after the game who agreed that even though it would have been a robbery did we deserve to lose to Hull? Draw with Preston? Draw with Doncaster last weekend?

But I doubt Billy would have let that shambolic performance slip. It did leave me pondering that had we had key men fit, how different would the game have been? After all it was our worst performance of the season and yet we managed to bag two undeserved goals. I secretly do fancy playing these in the play offs should we meet - however mad it sounds - provided we have a fully fit Moussi bossing the midfield.

Yet despite a late fight back, Forest have now only won 1 in their last 10 and sit 22^nd in the form table – a far cry from just over a month ago when we were sat at the top of it.

Now with the international breaks on hand though, I do feel that this tough patch of almost two games every single week will see the end of these poor performances. By the time we play Leeds on the 2^nd April, we should have Moussi, Lynch and Earnie back – Earnie said on his twitter today he’s almost fully fit. The rest should do the team good and provide us with the chance to make that late push with 8 games to go.

It’ll have to because with Leeds, Reading, Burnley and Norwich our next 4 games, things need to turn around dramatically if we hope to secure a play off place.

Watch the Forest Game Here

The stream we initially tried isnt working

so heres a link

http://www.vipstand.me/watch/24624/1/swansea-city-fc-vs-nottingham-forest-fc.html