Our capitulation on Boxing Day confirmed my fears after last Saturday’s match that we were slipping back into all our bad old ways. Nottingham Forest (if you want to annoy them, call them Notts Forest) don’t seem to do draws and even though they’re way above us in the league, they’ve actually lost more games than us. So, it’s likely to be all or nothing this afternoon and given our lack of first-choice players, it’s likely to be nothing. Grabban’s calf injury surely means we won’t be seeing him in our side again while Ndong and the improved Gibson look likely to be absent too. Daryl Murphy will probably be in their side and of course he’ll be hoping to get the winner again. I was thinking of going to the match but couldn’t get a ticket so it’ll have to be the internet again for me. If we won and our four immediate rivals (all of whom begin with the letter B) lose, then we could actually move up two places. It’s been a shite year for us and much as I’d love to see us ending it on a high note, I can’t see it happening so my match prediction is a 2-1 defeat.
When I got the team-news my spirits were lifted as Gibson was starting after all, as was Browning who’d also been a doubt, while Maja was on instead of Vaughan. I tuned into SAFSEE and we had a goalscoring chance three minutes in when Gibson crossed to Maja but he didn’t hit it first time and the opportunity was lost. We had most of the possession in the opening stages while Forest didn’t threaten at all. Murphy had their first real chance when he took advantage of sloppy play by Wilson and tried to lob Ruiter but it was blocked. About fifteen minutes in I could hear some Forest fans moaning not far from the commentary position and that was a pleasing sound. Anyway, Murphy had another decent chance just afterwards when Ruiter sounded static as his shot flew just wide of the left post. Commentator Gary Bennett said we needed to move forward from midfield more quickly and try to catch them on the break as Forest’s defence were looking nervous. Once again we’d started fairly brightly and then surrendered the ascendency to the opposition. Forest were certainly the only ones creating chances and Murphy was involved in everything; his header just after the half-hour mark went narrowly over. It sounded like we’d be lucky to go in at the break without conceding. Bennett said Forest didn’t look that good so I hoped we’d try to pressure them more and snatch one ourselves. So far we hadn’t had an effort on target. Next thing we were one-up when Matthews crossed and McGeady nodded it in. Simple really and we should have done a bit more of that earlier. Anyway, I wasn’t going to carp too much as with a few minutes to half-time and our fans singing loudly across the ether the afternoon was turning out surprisingly well. There hadn’t been a corner yet but Forest won two in a row just before the break. We survived and as the whistle went there was some booing but for once it wasn’t from our fans.
I was hoping we’d start the second-half with a bang and go for a second goal to finish them off. Oviedo’s runs down the left would torment their defence. Honeyman had barely had a mention so far but twice in the early stages of the second period he was pressing forward. Forest proceeded to do much more of the attacking and as the hour-mark approached I wondered which changes, if any, Coleman would make. We were coping okay defensively but were creating little ourselves. Forest made their second switch bringing on Carayol for McKay and then we brought on Vaughan for Maja. It looked like Gooch was coming on too but he sat down again. I wasn’t sorry to hear Murphy had to be subbed as well as he’d been by far their most dangerous player. With Murphy off and Vaughan battling away upfront for us the pendulum seemed to be swinging our way. With twenty minutes left Gooch finally came on replacing McManaman, who’d sounded like he was feeling the pace. We soon won our first corner…..but it went straight to their goalie Smith. Ah well, the time was ticking away and glowing images of celebratory drinks started creeping into my mind. Reading took the lead against Barnsley and that was all to the good. At fourteen minutes to go I had to start pacing the room (again). Traore was yellow-carded for a bad tackle on Love and next thing Oviedo replaced McGeady with eight minutes left. Vaughan was unsettling their back four while Ruiter was having a much quieter time since Murphy’s departure. Birmingham took the lead against Leeds, which wasn’t good news at all but if we could win I wouldn’t really care. We conceded a corner in the dying seconds but Gooch hooked it away. I thought there’d be a fair deal of stoppage-time and four minutes were announced. Forest were putting the pressure on but we were defending solidly and next thing Lichaj hit the post but we survived and the final whistle went.
I didn’t see that coming but we’ve bounced back well. If we can only do the same on Monday against Barnsley… Here’s to a happier new year on the football front.
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