Nottingham Forest 2008-09 Thread (R)

Discussion in 'League Championship' started by Pichi, Aug 10, 2008.

  1. ranny fash

    ranny fash Member

    May 18, 2005
    notts
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
  2. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Tomorrow has to be the match that the Reds finally get a W in the Win column. A victory would move them 5 points clear of relegation zone and even with Derby on points.

    Here is the preview of tomorrows match:


    Wright-Phillips returns to boost Pilgrims

    Updated: September 26, 2009, 8:31 AM ET

    Basement side Plymouth Argyle are boosted by the return to fitness of striker Bradley Wright-Phillips ahead of Sunday's home Championship game against Nottingham Forest.

    Wright-Phillips, who played a late role in Argyle's 1-0 home defeat by Watford two weeks ago, played throughout the reserves 9-1 win at Bournemouth on Tuesday, scoring twice.

    On-loan right back Darcy Blake, from Cardiff, could also come back into contention although Argyle boss Paul Sturrock is boosted by the arrival of Manchester United full back David Gray on loan.

    Gray started last week's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United at right back.

    Argyle - who have lost their last six league matches - face a wait to see if new on-loan Aston Villa central defender Shane Lowry passes fit.

    Lowry suffered an ankle injury during his Argyle bow at Newcastle.

    Kelvin Wilson will be hoping to make his first Championship appearance of the season for Forest.

    The defender made his comeback from an ankle injury he sustained in the summer against Blackburn in the Carling Cup in midweek.

    Luke Chambers dropped down to the bench to accommodate Wilson's return but he has been one of Forest's most consistent performers this season and will be hoping to reclaim his place in the starting line-up.

    Goalkeeper Lee Camp should oust Paul Smith, who has been used in the Carling Cup this season.

    Boss Billy Davies may be tempted to make changes to his forward line following another goalless game against Rovers.

    The Reds are unbeaten on their travels this season having drawn all four of their league games so far.

    Er Pichi
     
  3. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    The Reds snatch the much needed 3 points 0-1.

    Here is the post-match review from Soccernet:

    Gunter downs luckless Argyle


    0-1 Chris Gunter (45)

    Match Stats

    Plymouth Argyle Nottingham Forest
    Shots (on Goal) 8(3) 18(9)
    Fouls 19 15
    Corner Kicks 3 6
    Offsides 3 4
    Time of Possession 48% 52%
    Yellow Cards 0 0
    Red Cards 0 0
    Saves 5 3
    Match Information
    Stadium: Home Park, England
    Attendance: 14,792
    Match Time: 08:15 ET
    Official(s):
    A Woolmer (Referee)

    Teams
    Plymouth Argyle Nottingham Forest
    1 Romain Larrieu 1 Lee Camp
    18 Gary Sawyer 5 Wes Morgan
    39 David Gray 6 Kelvin Wilson
    37 Shane Lowry 16 Chris Gunter
    6 Chris Clark 18 Paul McKenna
    2 Karl Duguid 15 Chris Cohen
    4 Carl Fletcher 28 Radoslaw Majewski
    8 Jamie Mackie 9 Dele Adebola
    11 Kari Arnason 11 Nathan Tyson
    26 Alan Gow 23 Dexter Blackstock
    21 Cillian Sheridan 14 Joe Garner

    Substitutes
    23 Kyle Letheren Paul Smith 21
    38 James Chester Luke Chambers 4
    3 James Paterson Joel Lynch 33
    13 Darcy Blake Paul Anderson 7
    25 Alan Judge Lewis McGugan 8
    14 Rory Fallon Guy Moussi 19
    10 Bradley Wright-Phillips David McGoldrick 17
    Substitutions
    James Chester for Kari Arnason (35)
    Paul Anderson for Joe Garner (73)
    Bradley Wright-Phillips for Alan Gow (63)
    Luke Chambers for Kelvin Wilson (75)
    Alan Judge for Chris Clark (63)
    Guy Moussi for Dele Adebola (88)


    Updated: September 27, 2009, 10:30 AM ET

    Chris Gunter's first senior career goal maintained Nottingham Forest's solid away form in the Coca-Cola Championship as they won 1-0 at Plymouth to pile more misery on winless Argyle.

    The Wales international struck in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half to give Billy Davies' side only their second league victory of the season.

    Gunter, a £1.75million summer signing from Tottenham, played a neat one-two with Dexter Blackstock.

    He was fortunate that substitute defender James Chester slipped when he collected the return ball inside the box, but Gunter confidently beat Romain Larrieu with a low shot.

    Forest remain unbeaten on their travels since mid-March, although this was their first away win since the end of February, while bottom-of-the-table Plymouth have made their worst start to a season for 28 years.

    Home Park was full for the first time in five years as Plymouth launched their bid to be a host city for England's 2018 World Cup bid, and the feel-good factor spread to Paul Sturrock's players as they made a bright start to the game.

    After an early scare from a Blackstock header, Argyle should have took the lead through Jamie Mackie but he poked a driven, low cross wide from eight yards out.

    The Scot almost made amends midway through the first half following a piece of individual brilliance. Mackie collected possession on the left touchline, he backed three Forest defenders into the box and only a solid foot from keeper Lee Camp denied him a goal.

    A dipping shot from Radoslaw Majewski skimmed the top of the net before Plymouth lost Kari Arnason to injury after 35 minutes.

    He was replaced by Chester, whose first involvement was his ill-timed slip to allow Gunter a clear shot at goal.

    Joe Garner should have extended Forest's lead early in the second half but he sliced his shot wide from 10 yards out.

    Majewski tried to catch out Larrieu with a free-kick on the edge of the box just after the hour mark, but the Pole's shot curled just over the crossbar.

    Plymouth should have been awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when Kelvin Wilson appeared to unfairly halt Chester's path to goal, but referee Andy Woolmer waved away the appeals.

    Substitute Alan Judge looked lively when he came on. The midfielder, on loan from Blackburn, dragged a half-volley wide before stinging Camp's palms with a well-struck shot on the run with five minutes remaining, but that was as close as Argyle came to an equaliser.
     
  4. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    The Reds win back to back matches for the first time in ages as they defeated Scunthorpe Utd at home and move up 5 positions to 14th place with 13 points.

    Here is the match report from Soccernet.

    Er Pichi



    Nottingham Forest 2 Scunthorpe United 0

    1-0 Luke Chambers (71)
    2-0 Dexter Blackstock (76)

    Luke Chambers headed home a second-half Chris Cohen corner to set Nottingham Forest on their way to a deserved 2-0 win against a lacklustre and decidedly average Scunthorpe side.

    Billy Davies' men dominated possession throughout and despite some wasteful finishing, secured the points - and back-to-back Championship wins - with two goals in quick succession after 70 minutes, with Dexter Blackstock doubling the home side's lead after Chambers' opener.

    With the defeat at the City Ground, the Iron's four-game unbeaten league run was brought to an end, but the 2-0 scoreline could have been much heavier were it not for some wasteful finishing from the hosts' strikers in the opening 69 minutes.

    Forest started the game brightly and forced Scunthorpe onto the back foot early on with a succession of corners coming inside the first 10 minutes, but despite a red-shirted player getting his head to almost every ball no-one managed to trouble Joe Murphy in the Iron goal.

    The visiting keeper was eventually tested on the quarter-hour mark as Chris Gunter met the ball at the back post but he headed straight at the feet of Murphy and Scunthorpe managed to eventually clear.

    After 20 minutes Forest's Nathan Tyson made a strong run down the left flank and managed a high floating cross from the byline which was met firmly by Blackstock, but the frontman glanced the ball wide of the far post.

    In the final activity of the first half, Michael O'Connor produced Scunthorpe's best effort at goal with a burst into the hosts' half and eventually let fly with a shot from the edge of the box but narrowly missed the target.

    The Forest players were sent out early for the second period by Davies and carried on much as before with Gunter next to force Murphy into a save in the half's opening exchanges with a shot on the turn from inside the box which the goalkeeper managed to tip over for a corner.

    David McGoldrick and Tyson then both fired wide when in good positions, but with 25 minutes of the second period played, the majority of the 18,332 fans were treated to the goal the hosts deserved as Cohen whipped in a corner from the right which Chambers met strongly with a powerful header to make it 1-0.

    And soon after the opener came the second as Paul Anderson made a burst through the middle towards the right. He eventually fired in a low cross which was met by the onrushing Blackstock who converted to make it two after 72 minutes.

    Jonathan Forte was unlucky not to halve the deficit for Scunthorpe with seven minutes remaining as his strong run and shot through the middle agonisingly rebounded off the post after a deflection off Lee Camp in the Forest goal in the last meaningful action of the match.
     
  5. ranny fash

    ranny fash Member

    May 18, 2005
    notts
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    5 wins in a row. bloody juggernaught is accellerating menacingly down the obstacle-strewn highway.
     
  6. ranny fash

    ranny fash Member

    May 18, 2005
    notts
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    7 unbeaten. Playing some proper flowing football. Top 6 finish ought to be the aim now, let's not kid ourselves; we are among the contenders.
     
  7. ranny fash

    ranny fash Member

    May 18, 2005
    notts
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    4-1 last week, 5-1 today. We can go up this year if we don't get complacent. We have the best squad in the division now, with Shorey joining on loan. Bring on the Blades!
     
  8. psc2009

    psc2009 New Member

    Jul 14, 2009
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    As of right now, this season has been tremendous. I never thought that we'd be in this position in December!
     
  9. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    And with 3 games in a 9 day span starting this coming Saturday"

    Home Preston NE (13th Place)
    @ Watford (10th Place)
    Home Coventry City (19th Place)

    There is no reason that Forest can't pickup all 9 or at least 7 points and keep their push to the Premier League alive!

    Currently WBA is losing at home to QPR 0-1 in the 57th minute which leaves them only 2 pts ahead in second place.

    Go Reds

    Er Pichi
     
  10. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    WBA scored two late goals the last in injury time to draw 2-2 at home with QPR which gives them a 3 point advantage over Forest.

    Go Reds

    Er Pichi
     
  11. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Here's the preview for tomorrows (Saturday) match against Preston.

    Er Pichi

    McGoldrick hopes to keep place

    David McGoldrick will be hoping his match-winning goal at Swansea will be enough to keep his place in the Nottingham Forest line-up against Preston.

    The summer signing netted for only the third time this season last weekend as the Reds stretched their unbeaten league run to 13 matches with a 1-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium.

    Dexter Blackstock and Robert Earnshaw are pushing for recalls after they were dropped to the bench in south Wales.

    Boss Billy Davies has no new injury problems as he prepares to face the club he guided to the Championship play-offs in 2005 and 2006. Defender Julian Bennett (knee) and midfielder Guy Moussi (ankle) remain out.

    Skipper Paul McKenna will face his former club for the first time since ending a 12-year spell at Deepdale by joining the Reds in the summer.

    Preston boss Alan Irvine is hoping defender Billy Jones will be passed fit.

    The right-back limped out of the recent goalless draw against Derby after sustaining an ankle injury during the second half.

    He subsequently missed last weekend`s 2-0 home win over Plymouth when North End ended a dismal seven-match winless streak in the Championship.

    Eddie Nolan deputised against the Pilgrims and could do so again if Jones remains sidelined, although Irvine said: "Billy has a chance of making it.''

    French centre-back Youl Mawene remains sidelined until the new year after damaging knee ligaments in the recent home defeat against Newcastle.

    Midfielder Barry Nicholson is also out until 2010 as he recovers from a broken leg.
     
  12. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Here is the match report from today.

    With this game Forest are tied for second with WBA who have a game at hand with 39 points!

    Er Pichi



    Nottingham Forest 3 Preston North End 0

    1-0 Paul McKenna (16)
    2-0 Dele Adebola (25)
    3-0 Lewis McGugan (81)


    Paul McKenna returned to haunt Preston as in-form Nottingham Forest stretched their unbeaten run to 14 Coca-Cola Championship games with a 3-0 victory to move level on points with second-placed West Brom.

    McKenna, who spent 12 years at Deepdale before joining Forest for £750,000 in the summer, opened his account for Forest with a crisp finish from 25 yards out.

    Striker Dele Adebola scored Forest's second goal in the first half and Lewis McGugan added a third as former Preston boss Billy Davies' side outlined their promotion credentials with an impressive display.

    The Reds have now scored 12 goals in their last three home matches and look firmly on course to challenge for automatic promotion.

    Forest bossed the first half and they took just 15 minutes to take the lead.

    Winger Chris Cohen swung in a corner from the right and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan punched the ball clear to McKenna, who took a touch and unleashed a fine right-footed strike from 20 yards that found the far corner of the net.

    Out of respect for his former employers McKenna chose not to celebrate his first goal for Forest, but he was showing no sentiment with a commanding midfield display.

    And Forest were two goals to the good after 24 minutes when Robert Earnshaw took a short corner and the ball was worked to Nicky Shorey, whose left-footed cross was turned in by the unmarked Adebola.

    Richard Chaplow had an opportunity to pull a goal back but the former West Brom midfielder lashed a shot wide of the near post after breaking into the penalty area.

    Preston winger Ross Wallace's cross from the right floated narrowly wide of the far post, but it was Forest who continued to look the more dangerous going forward.

    Paul Anderson was a threat on the left flank and after a flowing move he broke into the box but Lonergan got down well to save his left-footed strike.

    The Lilywhites almost pulled a goal back six minutes before the break but Forest keeper Lee Camp did well to come out and put pressure on Chris Brown and the ball fell into the path of Billy Jones, who rifled a vicious right-footed drive which the agile Camp turned away for a corner.

    Substitute Neil Mellor should have pulled a goal back after 63 minutes when Wallace pulled the ball back from the byline but the strike volleyed over the bar from six eight yards.

    Forest almost added a third when Earnshaw raced clear 14 minutes from time, but Lonergan bravely saved to thwart the striker.

    But Earnshaw's replacement Lewis McGugan did make it three nine minutes from time when he beat his man on the edge of the area and slotted the ball through Lonergan's legs.
     
  13. BuckeyeRed

    BuckeyeRed Member

    Jun 25, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Hard to pick a man of the match vs. Preston. Shorey and McKenna were great and Wilson and Big Wes were solid as rocks in the centre of defense. Come on you Reds. Get a good result at Vicarage Road and then home 2 days later to thump Chav-entry.
     
  14. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Here's the preview of todays match at Watford.

    Er Pichi


    Watford could be without on-loan defender Craig Cathcart and midfielder Don Cowie for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.


    Manchester United central defender Cathcart hurt his knee in the recent home win over QPR and has missed the last two matches, while Cowie has been struggling with illness.

    Midfielder Ross Jenkins remains sidelined with the back injury that has forced him to miss the last eight matches, but manager Malky Mackay has no other new injury or suspension problems.

    The Hornets, who this week staved off the threat off administration by paying back a £4.88million loan to former chairman Jimmy Russo and vice-chairman Vince Russo, are looking to bounce back from two straight defeats in a bid to resurrect their play-off challenge.

    In-form Forest will take an unchanged squad to Vicarage Road as they look to extend their 14-game unbeaten league run.

    Guy Moussi remains the only absentee. The French midfielder has missed the last five matches with an ankle injury that boss Billy Davies this week described as a "mystery''.

    Davies may opt to make some changes from the home victory over Preston last weekend. However, the Scot will stick with a defence that has kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Championship.

    Garath McCleary and Lewis McGugan, who came off the bench during the 3-0 rout of North End, provide options in midfield while Dexter Blackstock, Nathan Tyson and David McGoldrick are available if Davies wishes to freshen up his strikeforce.
     
  15. Footy Magoo

    Footy Magoo Audaces fortuna iuvat

    Mar 23, 2009
    ♫ Flugelville
    It sounded like Watford had an edge in chances, but the point is nothing to be disappointed in. 15 in a row unbeaten.
     
  16. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    And the only team in the UK that has not lost an away game this season. Overall good results for Forest based on their closest rivals, WBA is leading lae in their match which pushed Forest to 3rd again, Cardiff losing at home 0-1, Swansea at 80 minutes tied 1-1 on the road and Derby losing at home against Blackpool 0-2 after 85 minutes! :D

    Here is the match summary
    [B

    Er Pichi


    Forest keep unbeaten run in tact[/B]

    Nottingham Forest survived a stern test of their Championship promotion credentials to hang on for point in a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road.

    Watford, with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley often the orchestrator, dominated for long periods but failed to make a breakthrough.

    The closest Malky Mackay's side came to only their second win in six league games was when Don Cowie struck a post midway through the second half.

    Forest's best chance came in the final 10 minutes when substitute Dexter Blackstock was denied by an outstanding save from Scott Loach.

    Billy Davies' side were fortunate to escape with a point to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches and preserve the country's only undefeated away record.

    Paul Anderson's shot from inside the area forced Loach into a parrying save after 10 minutes but Watford created the better first-half chances thereafter.

    A goalline clearance from Chris Gunter spared Lee Camp's blushes after the Forest keeper was beaten by Adrian Mariappa's cross-shot from the right-hand side two minutes later.

    Watford went close again in the 18th minute following neat link-up play between strike pairing Danny Graham and Heidar Helguson.

    Graham held the ball up on the edge of the box before teeing up Helguson whose shot had Camp scrambling across his goal but the ball went past the far post.

    Camp then tipped a 25-yard shot round a post from Cleverley on the half-hour mark.

    Forest almost caught Watford cold immediately after the break. Kelvin Wilson met Chris Cohen's near-post corner but his header looped on to the roof of the net. Dele Adebola also went close with a header three minutes into the second half.

    Lewis McGugan sent a low shot just wide after 59 minutes as Forest continued to improve.

    At the other end, Cleverley immediately threatened again. His curling shot from the left side of the box looked destined for the far top corner but the ball sailed just past the angle of post and crossbar.

    Cleverley was involved again midway through the second half as Watford reasserted their dominance. He set Lloyd Doyley free but the defender resisted the temptation to shoot and passed to Graham who scuffed a good chance harmlessly wide.

    A short corner from Cleverley then caught the Forest defence napping but Davies' side got away with it as Cowie's shot from the edge of the area struck a post.

    Forest almost snatched victory with seven minutes remaining but Loach showed why he is a target for Premier league clubs next month with a superb save to claw Blackstock's header away from the top corner.

    Watford also had a late chance to win the game but Henri Lansbury's shot went inches wide.

    Watford felt they should have been awarded a penalty in injury time when another effort from the on-loan Arsenal midfielder appeared to be blocked on the line by Nicky Shorey's arm but referee Andy D'Urso waved away the appeals.
     
  17. Footy Magoo

    Footy Magoo Audaces fortuna iuvat

    Mar 23, 2009
    ♫ Flugelville
    Cleverley's loan is up in January. It will be interesting to see what happens with him ... whether Watford can retain him or he goes elsewhere. Some folks on the Forest forum are hoping the Reds make a bid, but since Billy Davies is not sure they will get any money to spend, that may just be a pipe dream.

    PS. Real Betis has one of my favorite crests. Great avatar, Pichi.
     
  18. Scott-NFFC

    Scott-NFFC New Member

    Dec 27, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Can't make tomorrows game got to work :( But I can't complain to much the seasons going well so far 15 unbeaten and hopefully we'll make it 16 tomorrow.
     
  19. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    And the Red did make it 16 today. Coupled with Petersborough coming back to tie Cardiff 4-4 after being down 0-4, with two goals in the last 2 minutes of the match, and Swansea drawing at home they are now firmly in third place 6 points ahead of their nearest rivals and only 2 points behind WBA who have a game at hand.

    Here are two of the summaries of todays match against Coventry.

    Forest keep promotion push on track


    Scoring Summary
    Nottingham Forest 2 Coventry City 0

    1-0 Robert Earnshaw (42)
    2-0 Dexter Blackstock (78)


    Goals in each half from Robert Earnshaw and Dexter Blackstock earned Nottingham Forest victory over Coventry in a clash between two of the Coca-Cola Championship's in-form sides at the City Ground.

    Earnshaw had the ball in the net early on only to be denied his seventh goal of the season by an offside flag but he got his name on the scoresheet three minutes before the break when he rounded off a swift counter-attack with a deft finish.

    Blackstock made all three points safe in the 78th minute when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

    Victory ensured Nottingham Forest ended 2009 unbeaten in 16 matches - the club's longest run without defeat in the league since the Brian Clough era when they went on a record-breaking 42-game unbeaten streak between November 1977 and November 1978.

    Coventry made the short trip across the midlands on the back of their longest winning run for just over two years after victories in their last three outings.

    And they should have taken the lead after 10 minutes but Leon Best mis-timed his header from David Bell`s cross.

    At the other end, Kelvin Wilson went close with a header before Keiren Westwood had to tip an effort from Earnshaw over the crossbar.

    Forest went ahead following a quick break led by Radoslaw Majewski. From a Coventry corner, the Pole collected the ball and raced downfield.

    He found Earnshaw with a perfectly-weighted pass and the Wales international expertly lifted the ball over the advancing Westwood.

    A brilliant save from Lee Camp to deny Clinton Morrison at the start of the second half kept Forest in front.

    Nathan Tyson had a chance to make it 2-0 soon afterwards but he dragged his shot wide from a good position inside the box.

    Blackstock did double the Reds' advantage with 12 minutes remaining. Dele Adebola did well down the left-hand side of the box and crossed the ball for his strike partner to shoot past Westwood.

    Adebola went close to a third goal in the final minute but his shot from the edge of the area just cleared the crossbar.




    Match report: Forest 2 Coventry 0


    NOTTINGHAM Forest may have started 2009 battling for their Championship survival, but they will finish it in rather better circumstances, as a 16-match unbeaten run sustained their burgeoning promotion push.

    It has been a remarkable 12 months under Billy Davies, as he has taken a side struggling for confidence and form and shaken it into life.

    And, while Forest may have spent a decade outside the top flight, as 2010 looms on the horizon, the possibility of promotion remains tantalisingly within reach.

    It was fitting then, that a performance that perfectly personified the strengths that have been instilled into the squad by the Scotsman ensured the Reds completed December without a defeat, as another display of resolve and determination saw them through.

    Coventry City had provided stubborn opposition, but also arrived with no little degree of ambition, as they tried to play some flowing, attacking football of their own. Despite their lowly league position, they had not come to the City Ground to secure just a point. This was a match they wanted to win.

    Unfortunately for Chris Coleman's side, Forest seemed to crave victory even more.

    They are not a side that is easily broken down and it was yet another clean sheet – Forest's tenth of the campaign – which saw them through to their seventh victory in their last eight outings on home turf.

    The path to victory was begun as Robert Earnshaw fired his seventh goal in seven league starts, as a typically composed finish ended Keiran Westwood's resistance.

    And, while Coventry might feel their efforts had deserved more, a second from Dexter Blackstock made sure of the points.

    Nathan Tyson, one of five players restored to the side as Billy Davies took an attack-minded ethos, looked like a man on a mission after only 30 seconds, as he flew down the left to force an early corner, with Raddy Majewski – another man brought back in – picking out Kelvin Wilson at the far post, and the defender's knock-down was cleared in panicked fashion by Coventry

    The Sky Blues' rearguard was stretched again moments later as Chris Cohen almost bundled his way though the centre, following another melee on the edge of the six yard box.

    Coventry striker Leon Best and Reds defender Kelvin Wilson remain close friends off the pitch, after coming through the ranks together on the other side of the river Trent at Notts County. But, it was a rugged aerial challenge from Best that, for a short while, left Wilson looking as though he would struggle to continue.

    Forest thought they had scored shortly after, when Nathan Tyson rifled an emphatic shot home off the underside of the bar, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations.

    And with Wilson perhaps still shaken, the Forest defence then found themselves stretched, as Coventry began to threaten for the first time, with Leon Barnett rising highest to plant a powerful header just over the bar when he might have done better.

    Tyson was still a lively presence for Forest however, with his pace and directness forcing another corner which, after being taken quickly down the left, saw a recovering Wilson send a rocket of a header narrowly wide, following a bending, enticing cross from Nicky Shorey towards the near post.

    Earnshaw, a bustling, waspish figure up front, seemed to think he had scored as a crisp, rising shot left his boot on the edge of the box, before Westwood stretched out his left hand at the last moment, at full stretch, to palm the ball acrobatically and spectacularly over the goal.

    This was a vastly different game to the dour, ugly affair that Forest had endured at Watford, as both sides looked to make full use of the lush playing surface, as opposed to the ploughed field the Reds had encountered at Vicarage Road. But it was the home side who began to take control, with Shorey pushing forward to earn their fifth corner of the first 35 minutes.

    Camp's judgement was almost badly awry when Best angled a 25-yard shot across goal, with the keeper stooping to collect but seeing the dipping shot deflect off his shoulder and fizz just past the post.

    But skipper Paul McKenna threatened with a shot bent wide of the target with the outside of his right boot, as Forest sustained a spell of pressure that was ultimately to see them take the lead.

    And, when the goal came, it was one crafted through a mixture of pace, guile and intelligence. Majewski had little support as he broke quickly from his own half with three Coventry defenders ahead of him, but as he carried the ball goalwards, a surge from Tyson through the centre took the attention of two City defenders and allowed the Pole to slide a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Earnshaw who, cutting into the box from the right, lifted a precise finish over the advancing keeper.

    Camp was back to his best after the interval, plunging low to his right to swat a swiveling shot from Clinton Morrison wide of the upright, leaving the Coventry striker jumping up and down in frustration.

    But Forest could also have extended their advantage soon after the restart, with a surge of pace from Tyson taking him into space down the left, before his cut-back just eluded Blackstock in the middle.

    Blackstock then returned the favour by sending Tyson surging into the box down the right-hand channel, only for him to shoot wildly with his weaker right boot.

    Coventry responded by pushing Forest onto the back foot again, with Wes Morgan producing an outstanding, lunging clearance after Aaron Gunnarsson had whipped a low cross dangerously across goal, and Chris Gunter contributing a vital challenge at the far post, when the ball was lifted into the danger zone again.

    Both sides made two substitutions, with Forest looking to maintain their foothold in the game and Coventry seeking a goal.

    Sammy Clingan was given a hostile reception on his return to the City Ground as he came off the bench – but it was one of the Forest replacements who was to have the telling influence.

    That man was Dele Adebola, as he used all his strength and balance to twist and turn his way into the box from wide on the left, before laying the ball off for Blackstock to smash an unstoppable close-range drive across goal and high into the net.

    With Coventry's spirit drained by the second goal, it was Forest who looked the more likely to add again.

    Adebola fired narrowly over after squirming through the centre of the Coventry defence, while fellow sub Lewis McGugan twice came close to continuing his recent record of scoring when coming off the bench.

    This time there was to be no goal for McGugan and, in comparison to their recent wins on home turf, the scoreline had a modest look about it.

    But, looking back over the past 12 months, perhaps that is a sign of just how much things have changed.
     
  20. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
  21. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
  22. Pichi

    Pichi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 17, 1999
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    Real Betis
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Great match tonite by Forest as they trashed the Baggies 1-3 and move up to second place one point ahead the Baggies who still have a game at hand. Three goals from six shots on goal is great finishing by the Reds and one can sense that Davies has them believing that they can grab all 3 points on the road regardless of who the opposition is.

    Here is the match review:

    http://http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=285804&league=ENG.2&cc=5901

    Forest's next match is this coming Tuesday at Birmingham for the FA Cup replay.

    Er Pichi
     
  23. ranny fash

    ranny fash Member

    May 18, 2005
    notts
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Brilliant performance. We are too good for this league and the fans know it!
     
  24. BuckeyeRed

    BuckeyeRed Member

    Jun 25, 2007
    Cleveland, OH
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Played West Brom off the park for the first 65 minutes. Took our foot off the gas for the last 35 but a brilliant performance. Raddy's goal was phenomenal. Then came the build-up of at least 10 passes (many of them one-touch), beautiful football and Cohen placing it neatly in the corner of the net. Great away support again. It is great to be a Forest fan.
    Oh and by the way, result from Prideless Park: Direby 1-4 Scunny. What a weekend!
     

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