Bristol City - 1
Nottingham Forest - 1
Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates for the last few days - unfortunately I’ve been forcibly away from the internet for a while, which needless to say has been traumatic for me. Nonetheless, despite not originally intending to, I did make the trip down to see us play Bristol City today, not feeling especially confident but hopeful of being there in person to witness a win that would make automatic promotion a real possibility. Alas, I was to be disappointed on that front.
The first half was very evenly balanced, and surprisingly open given what was at stake for both sides. The first blood was drawn by Forest with a freekick just wide from Commons after Lester was felled. Bristol bit back quickly though when Betsy put it wide after coming through acres of space down the wing.
Amazingly we were in front shortly after this. Lester found Commons in what looked like one of those “this is Kris about to lose the ball” kind of positions, yet he managed to jink past a couple of players before crossing the ball in for Grant Holt to score (apparently it was a diving header - the view from the away end was pretty shite so I’ll take the match report’s word for it!).
Smith was called into action very soon after this - a header looked goal-bound before he executed a smart save to the left, tipping the ball behind to concede the corner. City did put some pressure on, but Forest did stand firm, and had occasional counter-attacking forays forward. Bristol’s movement off the ball was far superior to us though, so their players always seemed to be in space.
They did get the equaliser, sadly, about seven minutes before half time. A header dropped to Cole Skuse whose shot was well saved by Smith, but unfortunately he could only parry it back into play, where Bradley Orr was on hand to plant the ball into the roof of the net infront of us - at which point we actually got to hear from the otherwise quiet denizens of Bristol.
The second half, really, was Bristol’s if we’re being fair. They were bossing midfield and Forest were struggling to deal with it. Jack had just had an altercation with someone and a warning from the referee, and was soon withdrawn for the newly clean-shaven Prutton to bolster midfield. Both Jack and the fans appeared mystified by this apparently negative move and boos echoed from the away end.
In a way the tactics worked a bit - but ultimately it meant we were consigned to soaking pressure. Lee Johnson and Steve Brooker both had good opportunities but failed to hit the target as Forest lumped the ball forlornly to the lone Grant Holt up front, who was struggling - unsurprisingly - to keep possession for very long. Jevons had a good effort saved by Smith, before Lewis McGugan was left prone in our penalty area.
Tyson replaced him shortly after, with Forest reverting to a standard four four two formation. Shortly after this I’m convinced we should have had a penalty. Carey was attempting to shepherd the ball out, Grant cleverly got around the other side of him, won the ball and was clear of him before being wrestled to the deck - the inept referee waved play on much to the consternation of the away end.
City continued to pressure us, and we tried to shore up defence by bringing on Wes Morgan for John Curtis, with Luke Chambers (my man of the match for Forest) moving to right back. Carey missed what looked like a golden chance to take the points with a free header on the back stick, but headed wide thankfully!
Forest finished strong, but the final ball always seemed to just be lacking meaning that pressure and decent possession up front invariably didn’t lead to a chance on goal - which was very frustrating, the worst example when Grant Holt had done really well to get into the area, before letting himself down with a poor pass to Commons.
I should be quite pleased, I was expecting a defeat so to get a point is credit to the boys - but it’s a starting to feel too little too late. Bristol remain 4 points ahead of us, Scunthorpe won and are 4 points ahead of them. It’s certainly not impossible for us to achieve an automatic promotion spot, but even with my most optimistic hat on I can’t see both us picking up sufficient results, and Bristol or Scunny dropping them.
So all that remained was to run the gauntlett of ageing inbred idiots looking for trouble to find the car. Plenty of Brizzle knuckledraggers were out in force on the main road outside the ground, presumably looking for round two of Radcliffe Road earlier in the season. I didn’t see much beyond verbal exchanges - although it was fun to see one of the Bumpkins have a police dog get set on him. After leaving the bulk of fans heading off to their coaches, it was a relatively straightforward walk to the car and back to civilisation.
I fear the play offs now loom large on our horizon, I guess the small glimmer of light at the end of this particular tunnel is that (should we manage to get through the semis) the final will be hosted at the new Wembley stadium - which, whilst I’d happily miss out on it for automatic promotion, would be a tremendous day out.
31 March, 2007 at 10:22 pm
For christs sake we can still catch them. 18 points to play for yet and they have a much tougher run in. Well done today you red boys, difficult game and a good point.
1 April, 2007 at 12:11 am
dont get down man! we can still do this!
1 April, 2007 at 12:28 am
i doubt they will get maximum out of Yeovil and Swansea whislt our games are definitely more winnable. So while there are points to play for , there is hope……go you Reds!!!!!!!
1 April, 2007 at 2:37 am
Automatic promotion is still there.Anything could happen in the next 6 games and we certainly have the best squad of players out of the top 3.Great site..Keep up the good work!! Alan Wood
1 April, 2007 at 7:23 am
If you check last years league table after 40 games you will see Colchester were 4 points behind Brenford and they gained automatic promotion. We have a great run in and I feel confident we can take the 2nd spot. Rob Lewin
1 April, 2007 at 9:44 am
I just love your pessimistic realism. Your mood always seems to get it wrong which gives me great hope that we’ll get the (second) automatic spot. At least with the way they’re playing we can put away all talk of dropping out of the playoffs - can’t we.
Be a great consolation prize, a day out at Wembley,-but lets just leave it for Bristol City.
1 April, 2007 at 11:17 am
Its not a disaster but I can see City beating Yeovil. We have to be within a win of them after Rotherham, if were not then its curtains. 6pts is a must next weekend to keep us in the hunt, were still playing well so anything can happen but I personally think City are to good to blow up at this stage. Scunthorpe are gone now, we can’t catch them. We’ll see what happens next weekend, I am 80% sure were 3rd now tbh, thats what my head is saying but my heart is saying we still have a chance, we have got to win at least 5 to stay in with a chance.
1 April, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I must admit to hoping we would nick a win yesterday, but to give up on automatic promotion now is foolish. Bristol City are now very much in the ‘pressure position’ of having it all to lose. We on the other hand have six games that are all winable.
In many respects, Saturday’s match at Millwall is the crunch match. If we win, then I certainly back us to go up. Byfield’s serious injury yesterday cleary helps as he is a striker with pace that would cause us problems. We need to attack (as I’ve said all season) which once again we forgot to do yesterday for much of the second half. It is this reluctance to go at teams which may well cost us in the end.
Either way, we need to remain upbeat and confident because whether it is automatic promotion or via the play offs the end prize is still the same. Our form is now better than any of the teams below us, we are probably playing as well now as we have at any point in the season and the signs are good if we keep this run going.
I agree with Tom that we need to win 5 out of 6 (with a draw in the other game) to go up. I honestly think we are playing well enough to do it. Come on you Reds!
1 April, 2007 at 2:20 pm
the run in might be better but we’ve still got to perform
1 April, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Millwall? Wonder who’ll score against us there then…………….
1 April, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I personally think Tyson should have come on to replace Commons,because that bloke ie a waste of space.Yes he set the goal up ,but apart from that is crossing was poor and does not look fit at all
1 April, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Great to read some positivity - I’m glad my doom and gloom doesn’t pervade us all!
Eastanglia Red is unusually perceptive in his observations - I’m well aware I’m often over-negative and often am made to look foolish by what happens… I’m hoping and praying this post proves to be another example of this!
2 April, 2007 at 10:35 am
Bloody hell, look who is smouldering even more than usual, think he’s been made up and everything in this photo …
http://www.nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/be/5a/0,,10308~3168958,00.jpg
2 April, 2007 at 10:35 am
Of course it will nffc, be positive! Yeovil will not be an easy team to beat for both table-toppers, nor will be Swansea, Millwall, Tranmere or Blackpool. Have faith!
PS Look at your mail, Ive send you something and Im waiting for your comments… Cheers
2 April, 2007 at 11:05 am
A decent point away from home - we are relying on Bristol City blowing up now, however, and also for us to continue our decent run of form (unbeaten in 4 games is promising). If they win as few as 3 of their last 6 games, we’ll have to win 5 to catch up.
Come on you reds at Millwall, and come on Swansea next Saturday (!)
2 April, 2007 at 12:34 pm
well, the way bristol had been going i suppose we should be grateful for a point (a point i would have taken 3 weeks ago). But having gone through our sticky patch i still expected us to go on and win there, high expectations maybe?? no, i dont think so, we still have the best team/squad/fans in this division so i reckon we should have high expectations.
Having said that, our lot have let me down so many times this season as i said at the top i’m grateful for a point!
Still, 3rd and close to 2nd with 6 games to go…it’s bloody exciting, isnt it. What footballs all about.
2 April, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Ps, my youngest lad doesnt want us to go up automatically because he wants to “check out wembley”, Me, no thanks, my old ticker just wont take it!
3 April, 2007 at 8:42 am
Good match report - I wish I could be as confident as you that you’re doomed to the playoffs (although I hope you’re right) - plenty of time yet for City’s wheels to come off, and I think you certainly have the easier run-in. Sorry you encountered some of our idiots after the game - I guess every club has them. (When I brought my 2 youngsters to Nottingham for the game in the autumn, we were told to “f*ck off back to Bristol, you w*nkers” after the game by a well dressed middle-aged woman, for no apparent reason!) Do you think the game would be better without the name-calling, or is it a vital part of footie? And does everyone think that anyone who isn’t from their area is inbred?
3 April, 2007 at 9:05 am
I reckon a bit of banter is essential - although there’s a dearth of originality on that front - from me as much as anyone!
All groups of football fans have their idiots - I’m just glad that either ours weren’t out in force too much (at least not the ones who’ll follow up the verbals with violence) in Bristol or it could’ve gotten nasty… I must admit, I was surprised to hear the Bristol fans singing “the Addams family” at us - I mean, we’re a cosmopolitan city, not a hotbed of inbreeding like the South West! (joke
).
I’d wish you luck, but of course I wouldn’t mean it - City have kind of choked for two seasons now - surely it will be a case of third time lucky?
3 April, 2007 at 12:57 pm
We didn’t really choke last year so much as not get going till it was too late. There is a good feeling this time around at Ashton Gate. My personal preference would be for Forest and City to go up, because both clubs are bigger than League 1 and should be competing at the Championship level at least, with Yeovil or Swansea sneaking in via the playoffs for local interest next season. Anyway, I hope we’ll be visiting Nottingham next season for a Championship fixture!
Dave.