Through the seasons before us..

I’m getting fed up of saying we could really use three points in our next game – but the fact remains we could.  Of course, the phrase “must win” is bandied about, and whilst it’s not strictly true since automatic will still be attainable mathematically with a defeat, on a morale front we really should be getting all the points.  We’ve netted 16 points in 14 games, which over the course of a season is border-line relegation form – we need to turn this around with a good run of results, let’s hope that starts tomorrow!

Few of us will have forgotten tuesday night’s debacle against Blackpool – whilst we losttwo points thanks to a controversial penalty, which apparently has bitterly disappointed the squad (and fans alike), that shouldn’t detract from the fact that we were second-best through much of the game, and a big improvement from the players is necessary.  The other disappointment in that game was Grant Holt’s booking, which sees him suspended along with Tyson – taking away arguably our best striking combination.

The biggest issue for me is our painful lack of width when going forward – and since Smoulds has some enforced changes to make, I would like to see him go further in changing his team selection.  Now I’m not one of those (plentiful) fans who believe that Gary Holt is part of the axis of evil, but I’d like to see him rested tomorrow, and I’d like to see the Reds revert to something more akin to a flat 4-4-2 formation.  For what it’s worth, the team I’d select would be:

Smith

Curtis — Morgan — Breckin — Bennett

Perch — Prutton — Clingan — Commons

Lester — Agogo

Perch and Prutts could have the license to swap positions, and hopefully it will give our midfield a much-needed attacking feel, and hopefully provide the forwards with better service than they’ve enjoyed lately.  Lester will naturally drop back into midfield during the game, which means we need Agogo to work harder than I typically have seen him do so – but then, that goes for the entire team.

Chesterfield aren’t on a great run of form – they’ve won only one in the last six – not that this in itself is enough to inspire confidence.  Brighton were on a poor run of home form when we visited them, and look what happened there!  If anything I’d rather see us face a team in red-hot form just to alleviate the embarrassment when we roll over and sit deep should we actually manage to get a lead in the game.

As I’ve mentioned, Grant is suspended, as is Tyson.  Chesterfield are missing striker Jamie Ward to a hamstring injury, which leaves them depending on the man-mountain Wayne Allison.  Certainly not a gifted striker by any stretch of the imagination, but the kind of hard working bustling player who always seems to cause our defence immeasurable problems – so I certainly wouldn’t be writing him off any time soon.

Of course, we “tonked” them 4-0 earlier in the season – but any of you at the game will remember the bafflement we had upon leaving the ground.  The game itself was pretty even, and characterised by some lethal finishing from Jack, Neil Harris (!), Grant actually managed to convert a penalty and Nicky Southall finished the very peculiar “rout”.  Interestly only one of those goalscorers is available for this game.

Chesterfield will be fired up for this – they will certainly be keen to avenge the extremely flattering reverse they suffered at the City Ground, and they of course have the enigma of Barry Roche in goal – a man who rarely shined in a Forest shirt when faced by formidible opponents like coffee cups, but certainly hasn’t looked the hapless keeper bereft of confidence since joining the Spireites.

It’s impossible to predict anything about Forest now, a win is important to lift the fans and players alike – but whether we’re capable of registering one is another matter entirely.  I’ve had my confidence in the squad shred to pieces, I know they are capable – on their day – of beating any team in this league, but they’ve not had their day for some time.  A win would be very welcome, coupled with some decent loan signings next week.  I’m not particularly confident that either will happen.

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