Nottingham Forest – 2
Brentford -1
Forest progress to the regional quarter finals tonight in the dress rehearsal of the league fixture we have to look forward to on saturday. In front of an eerily empty City Ground, Forest started the game positively, starting with Pedersen in net, youngster Vincent Fernandez as the rightmost centreback in a back three along with Captain Wes and Julian Bennett, with a midfield four of Curtis, Perch, Clingan and Southall, and an attacking trio of Grant Holt and Jack Lester just behind Junior Agogo.
For all Forests’ early possession and passing, and for all the evident haplessness of Brentford, we never really looked all that decisive in the first half. Brentford were quite happy to allow us time and space in the centre but we didn’t seem to find a means of progressing beyond this. However it was somewhat against the run of play that they took the lead. Fernandez – who had impressed up to now – was utterly stitched up by a clever turn and nutmeg by Kuffour, his subsequent shot deflected off Wes Morgan and into the net – which the official site credits as an own goal. Jack picked up a booking for a reckless lunge just before the break – it looked like he got the ball to me, but I’m not sure he was going for it!
So half time came giving the 75 plucky Brentford fans nestled in the Bridgford End something to cheer at, the predictable boos came from the remaining 1956 Forest fans in the Main Stand. It’s been a while since I’ve ventured into D block – my god, what a bunch of whingers! It’s more like sitting in the house of commons than at a football match, I half expected people to start shouting ‘rhubarb! rhubarb!’
The second half started much as the first did, but fortunately for us we used our possession much more usefully than prior to the break. It only took a couple of minutes for the lively Agogo to pick up the ball on the left after dinking inside a couple of defenders, sending a delicious ball for ‘goal machine’ Southall to plant home first time much to the relief of the crowd! Ten minutes or so later it was again Agogo the provider as he placed a ball into the box for Grant Holt to head beyond the keeper – it looked like an easy save to me, but somehow it squeezed its way in.
Agogo was looking very confident now, with a few tricks and runs – Calderwood was obviously pleased enough with his contribution to not risk him further, shortly after he teed Southall up with another chance he was substituted for Commons, to a standing ovation from the now appreciative fans. Five minutes later and more youngsters were introduced into midfield, Robert Hughes for Sammy Clingan, and Lewis McGugan for Nicky Southall. Ultimately that was pretty much it – the game wasn’t exciting, or particularly good – but we did a job, and hopefully it will prove helpful in overcoming the same opponents (well, ish) on saturday!
Filed under: Matches
