Through the seasons before us..

Robbie Earnshaw is a red, is a red, is a red...

This was the definition of a game of two halves from Forest, a pretty poor quality first half in which an early goal gifted to Middlesbrough caused our hosts to play a pretty calculated game throughout.  The second half belonged to the Reds and certainly on balance of chances, whilst I’m pleased with a draw I think there’s an argument for suggesting that Forest did enough to feel they could’ve claimed all three points at the Riverside.

Less than two minutes were on the clock when a catalogue of errors involving our appalling marking meant that Adam Johnson was free on the left, he eventually found the equally badly marked Julio Arca on the right side.  His shot was saved by Camp – who I think should be either catching it or palming it somewhere safer – straight out to Lita who had no trouble at all finding the net.  Luckily I think that was the last save Camp had to make!

Forest were having immense difficulty holding on to the ball, and both the quality of passing and awareness of players that a bad pass could still reach them if they moved to the ball a bit was getting very frustrating.  The referee wasn’t helping, he’d booked Paul McKenna for a fairly run-of-the-mill foul and then ignored a series of other transgressions.  But referee aside Forest were mostly architects of their own downfall as Boro closed down everyone very quickly and we just didn’t cope with it.

The Moose had our first chance of the game, good work from Anderson found the midfielder with space to shoot – forcing a straightforward save from Brad Jones.  Twenty minutes of dreary football passed from both teams, before Joe Garner played McGoldrick – he turned, but the ball had run quite far.  We’ll never know whether he’d have got there because the Boro defender wrestled him to the ground.  Of course, the referee didn’t give a foul (and it was hard to see clearly from our end anyway, but naturally it was a stonewall penalty according to the angry man next to me!).

Our best chance of the half came at the end when Dele – who to be frank had an inauspicious half along with most of his teammates – won the ball well and turned into the area.  I think he should’ve shot himself, but he played a great ball in to McGoldrick putting him one-on-one, but his dithering and poor attempt at a sidestep gave Jones – and excellent goalkeeper – all the time he needed to work out his intentions and make a good save.

Despite playing mostly very badly, Forest had actually had more attempts on goal than the hosts – but with Adebola and McGoldrick not really clicking (Dele was winning plenty in the air, but Goldie was too far from him to profit from his flick ons and layoffs) it just wasn’t quite clicking.  The only pace in the side was Anderson – so I was hoping for some half time changes which were not to come.

What was entertaining was seeing Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond take to the Boro pitch in Newcastle shirts at half time.  They quickly changed into Boro shirts and announced an exhibition they’d organised at the MIMA.  Clarkson ending with “Nottingham, you can’t come!” to which the large Reds following responded with an almighty and extended bellow of “YOU FAT BASTARD”.  The curly-haired one didn’t really twig until a gleeful looking Richard Hammond pointed it out to him.  Good fun!

Forest came out the blocks fast in the second half, no changes but certainly a more determined team!  Joe Garner had a shot early in the half which he and the away end saw hit the defenders hand in the area, of course, the referee didn’t see it!  Dele had a header on target but it wasn’t difficult as it waws straight at Jones.  Garner had another effort from range which was just wide thanks to a deflection which gave us a corner.

Boro did had a break or two which didn’t culminate in any direct threat on our goal – and Forest were back on it, and we had another one-on-one with Anderson bursthing through on the left.  Ah, on the left.  He took one too many touches and again did a lot of Jones’ work for him who made the save with Anderson finally shooting from six yards.  It was starting to feel like the goal would never come!

Just thirteen minutes into the half the chants of the Forest fans were answered with Robbie Earnshaw taking the field in the place of McGoldrick, shortly after the hard-working-but-clearly-not-a-winger Joe Garner was taken off for McCleary.  Earnie was immediately buzzing around all over the place getting involved.  His chance finally came when the referee finally deigned to see a handball by a Middlesbrough defender, this time Wheater.

Unfortunately for us it was just outside the area – unfortunately for Boro, Jones set his wall up for a far-post freekick (which makes sense in a way, it was so close to dig it over the wall and under the bar would take some skill).  Fortunately Earnie has that skill – and dinked a lovely freekick over the wall and inside Jones’ near post where he couldn’t reach it.  He rushed off to the dugouts to somersault rather than the Forest end, which was interesting!

Dex replaced Dele with ten minutes left to rapturous applause from the Forest fans, and the boys picked up where they’d been playing and continued to press – Dex certainly didn’t show any signs of the injury he’s been recovering from, putting in a lot of running and defending from the front as well as seeking attacking opportunities.  Despite some pressure though, the Boro defence stayed solid aside from a deflected McCleary shot which made it into a simple catch for Jones.

Got to be happy with a point away from home at Boro, but we had enough chances to make it all three – not least by preventing the eminently preventable opening goal.  Good trip though, great to see the Red Army out in force – I wonder if we’ll get a mention on Top Gear any time soon?

Lest we forget

Nottingham Forest – 1
Bristol City – 1

It was the case of two immovable objects in the first half, as Gary Johnson decided to pack midfield – and so did Billy Davies!  It was actually the visitors who broke ranks first to attack which opened up the game in the second half, and two late goals meant the teams had to share the spoils – which on balance of play I think I would classify as a fair result, but it always feels disappointing to lose a lead to a late goal.  Ask a Cardiff fan last week!

It all started with – quite rightly – a minute silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, which was well observed by a crowd that included plenty of folks in military uniforms.

Anthony Taylor avoided too much controversy, but was as whistle and card-happy as ever for both sides throughout – having to be in the action as soon as thirty seconds when an apparently over-excited Maynard annihilated Gunts in a challenge that areas of the ground seemed to think might have warranted more than the yellow card he received.  It seems Gunts is a bit of a target for fouls like that, after being on the end of one at Cardiff too!

The Reds were largely unchanged in terms of personnel from the Cardiff game, but Garner was operating more freely than against Cardiff, but again it was five in the middle to match Bristol, with McGoldrick a forlorn figure leading the line alone.

Camp
Gunter   Morgan   Wilson   Cohen
Moussi   McKenna
Anderson   Majewski   Garner
McGoldrick

Inbetween the midfield stalemate there were opportunities though, Raddy played a lovely ball through towards Anderson but Kerken was quick off his line to get there first.  Anderson again was denied a change by a last ditch challenge by the impressive Skuse after a good cross from Gunter.  In fact, if truth be told, City’s defence dealt very comfortably with the little we had to offer in terms of dangerous forward play.

City continued to assert their physical (read: dirty) side of play, this time it was Sno who went in ludicrously late on Paul McKenna for no good reason and picked up a booking for his trouble.  Probably amongst the closest chances we had was a 25 yard effort from Joe Garner, well struck but just wide – and I’m not convinced it would have had the beating of the ‘keeper had it been inside the post rather than outside.

The Robins were clearly playing the waiting game – but did have some moments upfront, Haynes broke and looked clear to bear down on Camp but for an excellent saving tackle from Kelvin Wilson. Kelv is looking more and more the player we think him capable of being of late, which is great to see.  There was time for a couple more Reds chances, a Majewski shot from the edge of the box was straight at the ‘keeper, as was a Garner header from a McGoldrick cross.

Half time came and it’s disappointing to say that some of the fans were having a grumble – it wasn’t a great half, don’t get me wrong, but even still. The visiting fans seemed to retain that strange dislike for us that they’ve had since Smoulderwood said something fairly innoccuous about them – still, whatever floats your boat I suppose!

As thought, City came out for the second half much more positively – and they had the first opportunity which fell to the dangerous Maynard but his chance was blocked by Wes.  Shortly after Wes was marauding their penalty area, he was felled (I don’t think it was a penalty as he’d kicked the ball too far away, but I don’t think he dived either) and booked ridiculously for diving.  This is where inconsistencies annoy me, because the ref waved on play when Brizzle players hit the deck rather too easily but never once booked any for diving.

Billy responded to the more open style of play by reducing our midfield by one and introducing Dele Adebola for Majewski just shy of the hour mark.  City were putting solid pressure on us though, and Camp needed to show he was concentrating which he was, claiming the ball amongst bodies and staying alert to one of those dangerous inswinging freekicks which on this occasion went straight at the goal without anyone getting their head on it.

McCleary replaced Garner to add a bit more attacking flair, and the winger had a shot quite early after a good ball from Cohen but dragged it wide from the edge of the box.  Forest were really looking at their most dangerous so far in the afternoon, and the Moose put in a fantastic cross that just evaded McGoldrick before going out of play.  This brought about the long-awaited return of Robbie Earnshaw who took to the field to a great ovation.

The best moment of defending in the game came after – McCleary did really well to get past his man in the area on the goal-line, and square back to Anderson who looked certain to score but for an excellent intervetion by Skuse to stop the ball pretty much on the line.  The crowd started to get behind the lads, and the breakthrough came from a Cohen freekick which was touched on by Adebola to fall nicely for Wes Morgan to spanner the ball into the net from six yards.

Perhaps we should have made it safe too, dele played a ball shortly after in to Earnie who shot over.  Surely a fully fit and sharp Earnie would’ve at least worked the goalkeeper?

The game of course ended on a sour note for us – a well-worked but badly-defended visitor attack lead to their equaliser.  Hartley was afforded far too much time to pick out an excellent cross which McCombe nodded to Haynes, who made no mistake with the finish.  As I noted above, a draw was probably fair on balance of play, but as we know from last week, a getting the equaliser feels a lot better than losing the lead to a late goal.

However, up to eighth in the table, eight games unbeaten – in a run which has seen us play some good teams in this league – I can’t say I’m unhappy with that situation!  In other news, Billy just missed out on Manager of the Month to Cardiff’s Dave Jones – who enjoyed a similarly successful October to us.  Hard luck Billy!  Kelv would be my pick for man of the match, with Wes a close second – both besmirched their performance by allowing the late goal though.