Nottingham Forest – 2
Northampton Town – 2
A frustrating afternoon for Forest fans this afternoon, a first half which was completely dominated by the home side was followed by a collapse in form, class and effort to allow an improved performance from the visitors to not only equalise, but to take the lead – fortunately for the manager his substitution paid off and Agogo was able to salvage a less-than-impressive point with a last minute header.
The game started tentatively, with mainly Forest possession although Northampton had an early long range shot wide. Forest gradually built up momentum and had consistent pressure on the Cobblers goal. Tys turned and shot in the area, the shot being blocked by the arm of a defender – unfortunately the referee didn’t seem to notice this and waved play on.
Commons was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring after McGugan had found him, the winger managed to turn and when nothing looked on for him, unleash a right-footed shot which left Bunn (who we know from previous experience is a quality shotstopper) standing helpless as it rebounded from the crossbar. The rebound just evaded Tyson in the area.
A goal was quick to follow. James Perch hit an audacious cross-field pass to Commons, who did well to control it and keep it in play, and have the presence of mind to play the ball perfectly for the onrushing McGugan, who placed the ball powerfully past Bunn and into the net to give Forest the lead – a great finish and a great move.
Forest now played with confidence – Cohen played a great ball through to Tyson who was denied by a desperate last-minute lunge from Mark Hughes. The ball ricocheted to Commons, who had a lot more time than he evidently realise, so perhaps the first-time left footed volley wasn’t the best choice – in this case the ball ended up with the quiet band of Northampton supporters.
The game opened up, but the visitors - whilst knocking the ball around well – didn’t look particularly threatening, whereas Forest certainly did. A wicked corner hit in by McGugan nearly brought an own goal from Hubertz, whose near-post flicked header went right across the face of goal and just wide of the far post. Perchy too should perhaps have hit the target when Cohen found him in the box.
Half time came, and we were left speculating how many goals we’d end up with – the Cobblers had offered very little up until this point, and Forest looked increasingly confident as the half went on. I was also chatting to a fellow who had just bought a season ticket for his daughter – did you know that, in the absense of any kind of half-season ticket offer, that if you buy a season ticket now, it would cost you the same as if you’d bought it at the start of the season? Outrageous!
The second half began quite ferociously, the first act of note was a cynical foul by Dolman on Tyson – to me it looked like the position of the defence meant with his pace Tys could’ve got one-on-one, but since the foul occurred in the Forest half I suspect that saved the defender a red card. The Cobblers started to threaten and Hubertz brought a good save from Smith, who parried the ball away to a safe position.
An equaliser was not long in coming, though – Lockwood, who had a bit of ‘mare, gave the ball away allowing Ryan Gilligan to put in a decent cross which Hubertz was on hand to convert from close range. Forest did break back, but McGugan’s long range effort deflected to give a corner, which was promptly wasted and Northampton were back on the offensive, looking a very different side to the first half.
Wilson put in a fantastic last ditch challenge in when Henderson was clean through, but the Cobblers were really stating their intent. The lead for them came when Bowditch found Daniel Jones, who was able to outnumber Chambers as the left-winger was also forward, so he had little choice but to back off from him, with no covering player on hand to mark the extra man. Jones unleashed an absolute thunderbolt unchallenged, which struck the post and rebounded in off Smith.
Now given it’s a shot to the near post you could argue Smith should’ve done better too, but the fact that the Cobblers were able to outnumber our fullbacks on both sides perhaps spoke of the lack of cover they were getting either from the wingers infront of them, or whoever was supposed to be playing the ‘holding’ role – the fact I don’t name a name there is indicative that, in fact, neither Perch nor McGugan really were doing this.
Commons was withdrawn for Agogo, to some odd reaction from the fans, I didn’t think this was a bad move. The real annoyance was that Smoulds dictated Tyson should move to left wing and Agogo went upfront on his own. The Cobblers were still threatening and Crowe almost got a goal from 30 yards, which was viciously dipping and Smith made an impressive save at the expense of a corner.
Grant “shop window” Holt came on for Cohen after this, at which point the Northampton side started to timewaste and defend in numbers, McGugan picked up a booking after he lunged in on Johnson having lost the ball to him moments before. Grant mithered around the pitch a bit, but the only shop windows he’ll find himself in any time soon are charity shop ones.
Lennon was added for the increasingly nervous-looking Lockwood, and whilst he did have a poor game, I was disappointed to hear the reaction of some fans to this. Lenny will never provide an attacking threat, but he did provide an outlet for the ball – something we badly missed in the second half, and I think Sammy Clingan would have provided. Although the short freekick he took was pretty piss poor!
The goal came from the unlikely source of a corner, McGugan put in a decent delivery and Agogo headed into the goal at the near post to give – on balance – us a deserved point, despite us being largely atrocious in the second half, we did play some good stuff in the first. The only other silver lining I can come up with is the fact that we would have lost this game last season.
I get the horrible feeling that this is the start of the traditional winter lull that we seem to have. Hopefully the lads can prove me wrong, but we lost all shape, ability and desire in the second half – and were unable to cope with Northampton who, with all due respect, were not a particularly great side (despite the significant improvement in their second half performance).
The original headline was to be that Smoulds got out of jail, but I think he still is – I don’t know what he said to the players at half time, but whatever it was, it didn’t do the trick! As for the brightspark who started “We stole your manager” at the Cobblers fans, that was silly wasn’t it? From the message boards I checked out at the time of Smoulds’ appointment, despite him delivering promotion to them, most of ‘em were happy to see him leave!
Filed under: Matches
Overall, a lucky escape, I believe. Beacuse you’re right, nffc, the game was in the bag at half time. We must have had 10 chances to score in the first half, at least – on another day we could have gone in 3-0 up and the day would have been over. So that aspect is actually quite pleasing. The crumbling to dust in the second half wasn’t – although we did still make some chances, and pressed enough to score at the death. As I said on a previous post, we should get 10 points out of 12 on our next 4 matches (including this one), so that’s the 2 points dropped. We should not struggle against Port Vale – no offence to them, but if we can’t beat them at home, then questions will be asked!
The guy who bought the ticket must be bonkers.
Maybe his daughter was really really really naughty?
It just bamboozles me that Forest wouldn’t think to encourage more season ticket holders by offering some kind of staggered pricing structure as the season goes on…
Thats a bit too forward thinking for the Forest marketing department, NFFC, After all, isnt there something happening on December 25th????
I think we are being very generous here. The way Forest crumbled (good word, forest forest) was nothing short of disgraceful. And I’m afraid that this is a common problem at Forest. The managers motivational skills are non-existant. And let’s face it, our purple patch earlier this season was when we played Lenny, Cohen and Sammy together in midfield, so get Lenny back in the side and as soon as Sammy is available again put him straight in the team. I haven’t seen enough of Davies yet to convince me that he is the same player that tore us apart last year, and I’d fuck Grant Holt straight out of the Club to a bigger team and bring Sinclair back (he isn’t getting a start at Brentford now, either, so why’s he there?).
Here’s a little fact for you…some time ago a very good sports psychologist offered to word at forest (he’s a fan of the club). He reckoned he could make the players believe in their ability and see a game out. CC said no. That guy went over to Lincoln (one of the teams we failed to beat recently, along with Walsall and Luton) and their results in the last few games speak for themselves.
Half price season tickets…some years ago Forest did indeed offer a half-price season ticket at Christmas. Of course that was before Mark Arthur joined us.
Arthur Out.
Calderwood for Scotland.
Egor – there’s nothing happening on the 25th – all the games are on the 26th! All you get on the telly on the 25th is the same old rubbish, whereas on the 26th we’ll see…oh, hang on…
First Half Dominant.
Second Half Clueless.
Maybe a touch of complacent heads in the side when they came out. Such a let down to see a side like northamptopn take a point from the city ground.
In my opinion, i think we look clueless playing 4-3-3, or 4-5-1 what ever you want to call it.
Without Lenny, we lack structure in the side, and the authority figure for the young heads to look to.
Luke Chambers hasn’t impressed me in the last couple of games either, and Lockwood looks very edgy, always letting players come inside me.
Why aren’t we starting agogo? African cup of Nations? Not in Favour? It puzzles me as he is such a great striker.
Hopefully this is our only little hiccup during the season, and get back to winning ways against port vale. If we fail to beat vale, we have a serious problem.
Are we in the relegation zone ? Have we lost any of the last 10 games at the City Ground ? Did we lose on Saturday ? – Lets have soem perspective here, we are 3rd in the league. Yes we did (almost) capitulate in the second half but we kept going and unlike last year we salvaged a point.
I thought we played some great football first half and could have had 3 on the board, so to say 4-3-3 doesn’t work is wrong (though I admit I would like 4-4-2).
The second half was a different story and I don’t know why. The same 11 players who finished the first half started the second ? Perhaps some of them are arrogant enough to think that they had the game in the bag ? Blaming Calderwood though I think is a little harsh, would anyone have made a change at half time – no, and once those 11 players have crossed the line there is precious little as a manager you can do. CC did make the changes that were necessary (have no idea why he was booed for taking off the ineffectual Commons and replacing him with the goal scorer !)
The players have to look at themselves for the reasons they let Northampton back in the game, perhaps too many of them are now coasting – Chambers, Commons ?
Lets get behind the team for Port Vale !
Vale are due a win.
I think that what really concerns me is that we still don’t look like being able to win ugly. If we don’t master that in the reaminder of the season then we will struggle to get in to the top two, or to overcome whoever’s left in the playoffs. What we have to wonder is for all our good football this season, are we mentally and physically ‘tough’ enough to see the season out and finish above at least two of Swansea, Carlisle and Leeds? At this stage, it doesn’t look like it. Neil Lennon should help, but he didn’t against Luton in either game, may be we need some more grit in the side to see the season through.
I like Calderwood, always have, in fact I think I have been more patient with him than I ordinarily would be because he comes across so well and we have been playing some brilliant stufff this season, but frankly, as long as Forest are in this league, all that matters is promotion and if he can’t deliver it this season then all the charm beigins to sound like bull shit. I just hope that he realises our weaknesses and is capable of suring us up to get us out of this league. I actually think that if we ever managed to get out, both he and the players we have would do pretty well in the Championship, but its just getting us there that is the prooblem!
Also, can someone please tell me when and where Grant Holt has supposed to have said this ‘shop window’ comment? I think I missed it and it seems strange seeing as though he has been out of the side due to injury recently.
It seems that the Evening Post shares my thoughts!
Like Wacko Jacko, I seem to have missed Grant’s “shop window” comment. Can anyone tell me where it was from and whether there were any direct quotes?
Not a direct quote, as I can’t find it, but he was quoted as saying something like (about the Liverpool game) ‘It’s a great opportunity for me and some of the boys to put ourselves in the shop window to get a move to a bigger club.’
Which I suppose when thought isn’t so bad, I guess everybody in all walks of life would think that way – self included – but there’s a time and a place for voicing such things!
For what it’s worth, I can’t wait til we get shot of the likes of Holt… he’s never really looked proud to wear the Garibaldi, goes down way too easily, shows more passion in remonstrating with the referee than he does when we’re a goal down with 20 minutes to go and generally has that look of a disinterested footballer who hates football, but loves himself – in the mould of that perennial under-deliverer Huckerby. There I’ve said it.
This whole Holt thing is a mystery to me. Smolders doesnt like him or want him at the club for that matter (allegedly!) so I think its only a matter of time before he departs.
Its all Chinese whispers…..!!
I see CC is autioning off his Manager of the Month Award. Good job too as these things seem to be a bloody curse!
Let’s hope Dennis Wise bids for it!!
It’s a fair point about Holt – the message the club gave him by trying to flog him to all and sundry could well justify his apparent desire to seek a move.