Through the seasons before us..

A bit late in coming this, but this is another crucial game.  Forest now have claimed 11 points from their last 10 games - which anyone can see is pretty piss poor for a team with designs on winning promotion.  Bradford are on very similar form indeed to us - and of course, have lost Dean Windass (the perpetual thorn in our side), as well as Jermaine Johnson.  Forest are able to call on new boys Luke Chambers and David Prutton for this match.

Bradford are expected to field new signings of their own, Paynter, Dyer and Youga  - but more pressingly they will be playing their man-mountain goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who always seems to have a good game against us.  Of course, we beat them on the opening day when Nathan Tyson crocked himself after a couple of minutes - and we started that infuriating sequence of missing penalties for what seemed like an eternity!

I’d like to feel optimistic about this one, and there’s a possibility Commons could return to give us much needed creativity in midfield (assuming the Commons who plays well turns up), but I still have niggling doubts about the balance of the side following the deadline day departures.  But with the fresh impetus that Prutts will give our midfield, maybe just maybe we can get our league form back on track - but I don’t feel particularly confident about that.

One definite reason to feel a bit happier is the lack of the Windass factor - he almost scored against us in our home game at the end of the game, only to be thwarted by Paul Smith in the Forest goal.  His presence always gave Bradford an outlet and what he lacked for in pace or movement he made up for by positioning, first touch and deadly finishing - I’m bloody glad he’s not going to be facing us later today!