Saturday 15th March 2008
The City Ground

I'm not really a superstitious person, ok so I don't walk under ladders and I know the one about magpies but on a whole it's nothing serious. So why then can't Forest beat Walsall?

The run stretches to eleven games now and yesterday was a prime example of a jinx. For 60 minutes of this match the Saddlers were pummelled from pillow to post, but like a staggering Rocky Balboa they just wouldn't go under a killer blow.

Forest started like a rocket, so much so Nathan Tyson was clattered as early as 30 seconds in by Walsall right back Rhys Weston. Tyson's ingenuity down forest's left would be a big factor in this game.

Matt Thornhill, making only his second first team start had two chances excellently saved by Clayton Ince, one of which Colin Calderwood said was a contender for save of the season. Forest's defence were all at sea on six minutes but regained composure a few minutes later, without Walsall reallly gaining a chance at Paul Smith's goal.

Forest gave a home debut to on loan Preston striker Brett Ormerod who's movement and link up play were plesing to the eye. Ormerod had a couple of chances half way through the first period, both of which resulted in corners.

The energetic Tyson and the industrious Clingan were laying siege to the Saddlers net and causing all sorts of trouble down that left side. But it was a James Perch, who departed in the second half through illness, cross from the right which found Tyson 8 yards out, his glancing header brushing the bar after beating Ince.

Walsall's only real threat of the half came on the back of a refereeing blunder. The referee and his assistant on the Walsall left indicated a Forest throw, as the Red's players all moved into position the man in the middle changed his mind. Walsall reacted very quickly and got their hard working Edrissa Sonko in behind the Forest back line. He pulled the ball back for a waiting Tommy Mooney to shoot from 10 yards out only for Smith to block with his chest.

Forest have a habit of coming out in the second half a completely different team but this week seemed different. Forest once again were straight at it in the second period and got their reward inside 4 minutes. Another blistering run by Tyson on the left saw him square the ball across goal four yards out leaving Brett Ormerod to slide home at the far post. Deserved rewards for a energetic Forest display.

Just a minute later and an identical run and pass by Tyson should of given Ormerod another goal. This time in the centre of the six yard box the ball bobbled over his foot and ran straight across the face of goal. A glorious chance missed and would come back to haunt the Reds at the final whistle.

Tyson had seen another chance missed a couple of minutes later before the incident that changed the game took place at the other end. A deep hanging cross from the Saddlers right looked to be harmlessly drifting out of play, so much so Paul smith left it well alone. One man who didn't was the veteran Mooney, he headed back from the bye-line to see the ball hit Forest captain Kelvin Wilson on the chest and re-bound into an empty Forest net.

1-1 was far more than Walsall deserved and it seemed as if the Forest players knew it. Never again did Forest find the threat they carried for the first hour or so, in fact in a strange tactical shuffle Tyson was diploid down the right side moving him away from the left flank where he had caused so much trouble to the Walsall back line.

Sammy Clingan had to head of the line as Walsall grew in confidence, whilst Tyson and Chambers went close several times. The introduction of Holt & Agogo to make a four man forward line did little in the way to inspire, in fact Forest lacked the man power in the middle to regain possession from the doggid Walsall midfield.

Mark Bradley repeated Tyson's goal antics with a glancing header onto the top of the Forest cross bar as the Saddlers sensed they may just sneak out with all three points. Clayton Ince made a few fine saves towards the end as Forest tried to lay siege to the oppositions goal, without any great success.

The full time whistle was greeted with home jeers and even a prominent shout for the managers head could be heard. Results else where actually meant that Forest gained on 1st and 2nd but the loss of two points at home is the real issue. Once again Forest dominate their opposition, like Carlisle in the first half, like Crewe for 90 minutes and the same today for the majority of the encounter, but fail to put away gilt edge chances. Hard work still left in the pipe-line and I for one won't fully give up on second place, I don't believe in hoodoo's, however I do believe in miracles.

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