Nottingham Forest – 1
Leeds United – 2
I was ready to write Smoulds’ obituary at half time today, because in the first half I thought we were very poor indeed – and made Leeds look a lot better than they were, in a rather scrappy first half were the Yorkshire side certainly performed more effectively than the home side. There were apparently two shots on target each in the first half, but I can’t really recall ours being particularly clearcut – as it was, the first goal for Leeds was excellently taken by Tresor Kandol after good work from Beckford.
Beckford and Kandol in the first half left me feeling jealous about what I wanted to see in forward play from the Reds. Tricky, pacey and always finding space with tricky runs – similarly to us though, Leeds struggled to feed them with many chances – of course, it would transpire that a limited number of chances would prove enough.
Dennis Wise – not my favourite football character – does deserve some credit on this showing, his Leeds side were not the best I’ve seen even in League One on this showing, but they had passion and drive, and considering he built the squad on a shoestring in about three weeks, it does rather raise question marks around our expensively assembled one, over a longer time period.
The second half was more about Forest. It took less than five minutes for us to level, scoring our first goal of the season. Clingan was felled around 35 yards out, Commons struck the freekick vaguely goalward, deflecting of Alan Thompson which I think makes it pretty much an own goal – meaning we’ve not actually scored ourselves yet this season!
Perchy touched the ball wide when he should’ve done better – indeed, in the first half Perchy should perhaps have done better when his shot was cleared off the line too. Commons had one blocked from around 6 yards after Grant nodded down, by which point the Leeds fans were looking rather nervous as Forest were piling on the pressure.
Tyson was introduced for the still-unfit-looking Agogo, but Leeds started to push forward again. Tys threw himself into a couple of challenges suggesting he’s not too nervous about any injury recurrences. Tyson then created our best chance, he hared down the right and crossed for Bastians who turned and basically missed an open goal – before turning he could’ve set up Grant Holt quite easily.
But alas, there was to be a suckerpunch for our inability to convert our chances as Carole passed Lennon, and a deflected shot headed towards the back post where the unmarked Beckford was on hand to bury the ball into the roof of the net to the delirium of the travelling Leeds fans. So whilst we were hard done by, we were very much the architects of our own downfall – but the positive second half showing made me reappraise and feel a little less negative about all things Forest.
A word on the Leeds fans, the loudest we’ve had here in ages – I thought on the whole they were brilliant, definitely louder when winning and quieter after our equaliser, but which fans aren’t? There were a minority of pondlife who chanted derogitory things about Brian Clough, but then our own morons responded with interest by chanting about Istanbul. Some of their tattooed fuckwits spent much of the game having a staring competition with some of our own morons, but aside from these minor infractions, I thought the majority of the 3,483 were a credit to themselves and the club.
And so we’ve mustered a fairly pathetic 2 points from a possible nine – although that is the same as Manchester United I suppose. The second half performance gives me heart, as does Tyson’s return – but we really must learn how to put that ball in the onion bag, but certainly the quality of football in the second half shows promising things, long may this continue.
Whilst Leeds will feel rightly pleased with their tremendous start to the season, I would advise caution to their followers given our own experiences of solid starts to a league campaign here – but given the shitty time their fans have had lately, you can’t really blame them for celebrating. At this rates it’ll only take them about 6 more games to have more points than us!
Filed under: Matches
1st half we were shocking, I am sorry but we were, Leeds fans were sitting in front of me and to be fair were sound blokes just wanting to watch Leeds, however even they couldn’t believe cc tatics in the 1st half. They couldn’t believe how negative we were for the home side.
Example, Leeds get a corner and we have every man in the goal area, pathetic, surely it would make more sense to leave a striker up field to a)pick up any loose balls when cleared, this stopping another cross coming in and b) start a counter attack when Leeds would have only had two players back.
Now the positives, 2nd half performance was much more better, why we don’t start games like this I never know, tyson is back and that will stretch teams, agogo and holt are just too static when they play together compard to Kandol and Beckford at the other end for example.
On the 2nd half showing CC is safe for now, however if he keeps being anymore negative like the 1st half then a new manager will probably be in the hot seat. I just hope now after the 2nd half showing he understands that attack is the best form of defence.
A quick word on the leeds fans, apart rom one chant about Cloughie which a minority sang, I thought they were superb today with regards to atmosphere. I have never heard such loud support coming from the bridgeford end.
I’m a Leeds fan and I listened on the radio think the review is fair comment yes we were slightly fortunate but as you rightly state we have passion and drive all our matches so far this season have been won late on a testement to players fitness which D.W lamented about last season …. when your down the only way is up when you reach rock bottom D.W will keep there feet planted on the ground and the cup game at Portsmouth will be a reality check for the players but winning becomes a habit a nice one to have don’t you agree….
As a Leeds fan, I can only thank you for the fair review. From the radio commentary I heard, Forest could have had 3 in the second half but fortunately ‘could haves’ don’t count and Leeds continue to ride their luck.
I’m also no great lover of Wise but I have to give him credit for throwing on an extra forward in the second half of all our games so far this season and going for the win. Tactical balls that were never in evidence with our previous manager. Wise has obviously decided draws are no good to us so it’s win or bust. So far so good.
Our undoing could well be our thin squad over a long season. Unless Wise can find some money to bring in 2 or 3 more players before Friday then I don’t see us troubling you for the title.
Good luck, glad the knuckle draggers didn’t let us down,
Peter
I always try to be fair in my comments, plus there’s so many Leeds fans on the ‘net if I wasn’t I’d soon be put right!
Wise does deserve credit for his empassioning and his ballsy approach to finishing games – I wonder whether it will always work, though? Who knows – either way, your boys took their chances today, ours didn’t, c’est la vie – no point in getting bitter about it.
As for troubling us for the title – I can’t see us exactly walking away with this league, can you?
Not at the match myself but my son who was reckoned we robbed you as you were much the better side in the second half but didn’t take your chances. Still, the name of the game is scoring goals and I’m glad we’ve another three points towards safety. A very fair review by the way.
As others have said, not only a very fair review, but an informative and well written one too. Great work.
Ian
Cheeky headline! Great review, cheers for the refreshingly honest insight. 25,000 + for Div1 game shows something definately wrong for both these great clubs and fans. NFFC, What’s the general opinion from the proper fans like yourself about the point deduction, which is actually 25 points in total?
Well, given the timing of the 10 point deduction last season – I don’t really think that should be considered, should it? I’m not sure – you were all but relegated already, so it wasn’t really a punishment at all.
I don’t know enough detail about the financials, but I know there were (and probably still are) dodgy, I don’t know whether points deductions are a fair way of going about punishing off-the-pitch shenanigans.
I do feel bad for the fans of Leeds – Forest were similarly mismanaged, and rather than go into admin (even when it wasn’t punishable) we sold all our talent off and got relegated under our own steam because of lack of quality – so perhaps the fact that we arrive at a similar level for similar ‘offences’ suggests the punishment is fair?
I’m really not sure. As ever, it’s the powers-that-be at board level shafting the poor supporters, and for that I feel bad – but depending on the severity of his dodgy dealings (allegedly), should Ken Bates be allowed to get away with wiping out a debt in such a manner? Probably not.
So I suppose I’m sitting on the fence a bit on this one – I do think *something* should have been done about it, but I would prefer it if it were legislation to remove shysters like Bates and co from ever getting involved in football again. Except perhaps if he wanted to take over at Derby
Interesting, your definately right about the relegation deduction. As for reinstatement point deduction for essentially a finanical business matter, and a punishment is clearly an injustice and unfair to the fans, players, and sport in general as it should be dealt with by legal authorities. Why do fans, families, even kids have to be pnished for this and have they not suffred enough? At the end of the season how can other clubs honourably accept winning, promotion or avoiding relegation because a point deduction has influenced Leeds position rather than a position based on merit or performance?
Note it was KPMG, the leagues own accountants who administered the whole thing, and coincidentally walked off with a fee of I believe 800K. Bates has very few friends in Leeds and most want him out, and look Ridsdale doing the same thing in Cardiff.
Its pretty scarey seeing where Forest still are after so long, lets hope both these great clubs can get back on track sooner rather than later. If you thought those amazing fans were noisey to day just wait to get to Elland Road where no doubt Forest will attract a packed house of 25,000+ ! Sounds like it was a good day for football today, and we’ll take 3 points gratefully any time, but especially in this position….cheers again for the report & opinion
As a Leeds fan who was at the game I can only agree with the majority of your comments but apart from 20 minutes or so in the 2nd half you didn’t really do a great deal – Leeds bossed the 1st half and played a classic away team strategy, defend from the front and play on the break.
As the home team I expected Forest to come out all guns blazing after the break and go for it! It paid off, though the goal was a little bit of a freak and could easily have been prevented. You had the ball an awful lot in the 2nd half but I don’t remember our keeper making a single save!?! Do you?
I think more credit should be given to Leeds, who came back into it as the game went on, remember we were palying away at a team who are favourites to win the league!!
I didn’t think our fans were especially loud apart from after we scored and the final whistle. We were louder at Tranmere. Anyway thanks for a good day and 3 points!!
Oh will you also please ask your club to write to the council about having a t least one sign in nottingham that says ‘CITY GROUND, THIS WAY —->’
[...] Heartbreak for Forest as Lucky Leeds’s run goes on.. [image]Nottingham Forest – 1 Leeds United – 2 I was ready to write Smoulds’ obituary at half time today, because […] [...]
Thats an polished and honest review coming from a Forest fan after a tough defeat . Hats off to you mate .
I guess we were lucky in some respect today as you guys missed 3 absolute sitters, but isn’t it about time us Leeds fans got a break from the nightmare we’ve endured. Anyway, I also believe you make your own luck in this game and Wisey showed again he has a big pair of cahunas by going 4-3-3 and trying to in the game – how many times as that paid off this season? 4 out of 4 I reckon.
I agree this tactic will not always work and will occasionally backfire, but with the 15 points reduction, there is no point being cautious. Can you imagine Blackwell ever using those tactics? We were lucky to get 4-4-2 instead of his usual 4-5-1. So it’s a very refreshing time to be a Leeds fan and long may it continue.
Hope to meet you guys in the Chamionship next year and the Prem the year after, were both clubs belong.
In all honesty, you lot deserved a point, we rode our luck but last season, we never got any of that luck. I think on that showing, you’ll do fine this season for the play offs. Not sure what the rest of the league has to offer yet though obviously.
With regards to the Brian Clough chanting, that was directly in response to: “Dennis Wise is a wan*er”. Therefore, the chant resulted back at Nottingham with the same song, but obviously directed at Clough was to be expected would you not agree?
Anyway, one of the last proper clubs still left, so good luck for the rest of the season.
Nice review agree with it all except our “Brian Cloughs is a wanker” chant was a direct response to your “Dennis Wise is a wanker” chant, shame your idiots responded how they did and no doubt some of your true fans may feel the repercussions at ER next season sadly.
Could of easily ended about 4-1 to you but your strike force is shocking.You murdered us down our left.
The ref was a right tosser,he was poor overall but he definitely was favouring forest,we couldn’t touch your players without you getting a free kick and when we got pushed,shoved and fouled all we got was a booking ourselves!
Good day out,shame about the Istanbul chants but every club has it’s idiots.Hopefully both clubs will be in the Championship next season.
Well….. 90% of the responses are from Leeds fans… Are we THAT disappointed? Being so far away I cant offer anything while my country is burning all over… HEADS UP! Thats the only thing I can say…
Keep up the good work NFFC… I hope we meet one day at the City Ground…
Hi F&E,
Hmm, I don’t think insulting a deceased bona fide football legend, regardless of his interactions with your team, is in any way justifiable as a response to an insult to the incumbent manager of your team. No way at all.
If (for whatever reason, because our manager is as bland as they come!) you had started chanting about Calderwood, and we responded with derogatory chants about Don Revie, would you feel so easy about it?
I think not. But as I noted originally, this shouldn’t really be the focus of the discussion, it was a minority of your fans, and a minority of our fans who acted in this shameful way.
nffc, – who’s club site is this, we’ll have your mates from Oldham on next.
Just a word on the Leeds support. The massed choir of the Lower Bridgford was very impressive viewed from the Trent End as well as very vomit inducing under the circumstances. The word ‘together’ seemed to recur. mmm!
It is, as you well know, a haven for the mighty Reds – I don’t think this has been quite as fraught as the Oldham invasion, and certainly more civil!
Togetherness is a good way of describing Leeds – manager, players, fans, all backing one another – pushed together by what they perceive as the misjustice of the points deduction.