Saturday 9th February 2008
The City Ground

Really big scary Lions roar. These ones on the other hand were closer to domestic kittens I'm afraid to say. Forest needed 45 minutes to win this game but in truth they would have only needed ten. Two goals in ten second half minutes saw Colin Calderwood become the lion tamer, which must have been a relief as I suspect he's felt as if he'd had his head in a lion's mouth this past week.

Millwall arrived on the back of a 3-0 home spanking from fellow promotion candidates Doncaster last week so with a trip to a Forest team un-beaten in 13 at home Kenny Jackett, the Millwall boss, must have been hoping his big cats turned out a big top performance. Sadly for the former Swansea manager his lions rolled over and had there belly's tickled.

Inside 90 seconds of the start new boy Will Hoskins could and maybe should have opened his account for his new team when a wonderful pass from McGugan was slid through to the on loan Watford striker 10 yards out. The Local lad on his debut got his shot away but the experienced Evans in the lions net had read the danger and was off his line early to close down the shot.

Just 1 minute later and Commons was away down the right for the reds but saw his effort drift over the bar. A good first 3 minute's for forest, who looked like they had come out with a point to prove. I'm not sure the next 42 are even worth writing about. Forest stopped, not sure why but they did and with Millwall lacking in any real skill the game was instantly dragged down to park level. Simple passing became more difficult than origami, shooting quality was better in the warm up before the game and mistakes were being thrown around like a drunks punch.

Tyson wasted on 15 whilst McGugan saw an effort saved on 16. A tame effort by Commons on 21 was telling of the half. Millwall never got any real chances away at Paul Smith's net and the big Forest stopper had one of his quieter games. Forest forced three corners in a row late in the half but failed to convert, so to did Tyson when fed well by the hard working Hoskins. If there was a bright light to emerge from the dreary display it was that of Hoskins. He worked hard but couldn't find the target, I'm sure we already have 5 more strikers like that on the books, but to Hoskins credit the service in the first half was well below what a striker of his un-deniable quality needs.

The half time whistle was met with two things in the stands. One was unrest. Boos rang round the ground as people vented their frustrations on a dismal 45 minute's, combined with an abject 90 at Bournemouth the week before, at the players and management alike. The other feeling in the crowd was the understanding that this season the old adage of a game of two halves has never been truer than with Forest's performances. If that was our bad 45 then the second had to be better, didn't it?

It was I here you cry. Despite Millwall's hard working forward Gary Alexander having the first, yet tame shot of the half, it was Forest inside 2 minutes of the re-start who broke the deadlock. A Commons corner from the right was met by local boy Julian Bennett's thunderous header. Up went bums from seats as it seemed finally the red army in the stands felt the love for their team come rushing back to them. Bennett's celebration showed his real passion and desire to which one hopes, now that this forest starting 11 boasts 5 Nottingham locals, will rub off on his team mates.

Just ten minutes later and Forest had both there full backs to thank. Right back Luke Chambers was quickest to react from the melee after another Forest corner. Chambers struck right footed from ten yards out to slam home his sixth goal of the season. Not bad for a right back, considering he was bought here as a centre half. This was ultimately what forest fan's expected. A team now looking as if it was going to win three points and take their respectable un-beaten home run to 14.

Forest gained another corner on 62, there 12 during the game indicating the one directional traffic, where Wes Morgan climbed highest only to rattle the Lion's bar. This was followed by another headed chance, this time it was Bennett who tried to produce Forest's third, alas it drifted over. 20 gone in the half and Hoskins was fed through neatly by the hard working Clingan and from 12 yards out on the right side slid his effort past Evans, sadly for the debutant just passed the post as well. What appeared to be a touch of cramp set in, remembering he's not played a deal of first team football this season and Hoskins was withdrawn, not before receiving a deserved standing ovation.

On came Grant Holt with a point to prove to the Forest faithful and he nearly did just that. His header on 71 though failed to beat Evans. Forest continued to press whilst a persistent feeling that they had never found top gear crept into the mind. What they had found was enough to beat a poor Millwall team whose fans cheered their team late on for a shot that was at least ten yards wide. A party erupted in the lower region of the Bridgeford stand as if they had won the Euro Millions Lottery the night before.

Arron Davies and James Perch joined Forest's own party on the park and it was Davies who tried hard to find the form that saw Colin Calderwood sign the former Yeovil winger. His cross late on was glanced by fellow sub Holt but that also drifted wide from the big centre forward. Bookings for both Holt and Bennett clocked up suspensions for the next home game against Swindon in a weeks time. Holt can be replaced by a returning Junior Agogo but Bennett's rampaging displays at right back will be missed. He's not only won back his place in the team, more than once this season but he has also earned a lot of respect from the fans, his fellow team mates and the management staff with his heart on his sleeve style. Every body at the City Ground loves a committed, aggressive tackling, marauding, goal scoring left back with a never say die attitude, don't they?

As the full time whistle sounded those boos turned to cheers and minds turned to Tuesday night's sell out at Elland Road.
Confidence in Calderwood was restored, if only slightly by some but one thing is certain, Forest won't beat Leeds like they beat Millwall with that display but Forest fans keep faith. Leeds's fortunes are no better than ours at present and surely we must end our away day blues soon.

Alan March.
Commentator for Visually Impaired Spectators at Nottingham Forest and Wembley Stadium.