Monday 24th March 2008
The City Ground

The from guide doesn't lie and if you study it closely you will see that the reason Carlisle are now only 5 points behind Swansea and 11 clear of Forest is because the Cumbrians are the only team inside the top 10 showing any kind of form. Last month Forest were desperate to get the away day monkey off their back's but if any one had told them it would cost them their home form they might not of wanted it so bad.

After the ten-man victory over Northampton on the Friday night the optimism was still firmly planted in Forest minds as Brighton came to town. The game was never going to be easy as the Seagulls had their own agenda. Sat just a point outside the play-off places with a game in hand they showed no fear throughout the 90 minute's and judging from the celebrations after this draw the travelling fans were more than happy with this point.

It could have been an even better day for the visitors if their top scorer Nicky Forster had converted from 4 yards out. The striker found himself in acres of space inside the 6-yard box as the ball came to him. With his back to goal he span and shot at the empty net only to blaze wide of Forests Left hand post.

In truth it took Forest 10 minute's to get to grips with Brighton and especially their playmaker Dean Cox, who was the hub of all activity for Brighton all afternoon. Kris Commons saw a shot saved well by Kuipers and a few moments later he fed Julian Bennett down the left, who in turn delivered a wonderful cross for an on rushing Nathan Tyson. Tyson's header glanced past Kuipers but drifted wide of the post. The ball however was not allowed to drift out and Matt Thornhill got to it but struck the ball against post from a tight angle.

Forest had grabbed the upper hand and efforts from Luke Chambers and Chris Cohen were both dealt with by Brighton's Dutch goalie. Glenn Murray wasted a chance for the visitors whilst an excellent block from Chambers denied him another chance moments later.

As the half drew to a close the game started to loose its fluidity. Obvious passes were not taken and close control became somewhat of a myth. Kris commons was guilty of poor decision making for large parts of the game but on 35 it was the skill he truly possesses that shone brightest. The tricky Forest man found himself without options, with his back to goal just inside the right side of the box. Some would have looked for a pass outside but Commons swivelled and produced an audacious chip to which, despite only being a couple of yards off his line, Kuipers struggled to tip over the bar.

The half ended with a Brighton corner and this was the first time Paul Smith was really brought into action. Big Tommy Elphick met the cross with his head but the Red's stopper was equal and pushed the effort onto the bar.

A much too similar story was unfolding at the City Ground as once again, like Carlisle and Walsall before, Forest had done everything in the first half but score. And in the past few games it had cost them dear.

Forest didn't die off straight away in the second period and really should have taken the lead after just 90 seconds of the restart. The ball was flashed all away across the Brighton goal line only for Matt Thornhill to knock it over the bar from 4-yards. The youngster, who has shown a good eye for goal couldn't believe he had passed up the opportunity.

A few minute's late and it was Wes Morgan's turn to be disappointed. Forest's player of the month for February climbed high to head goal wards only for Kuipers to dive down low to his right and touch the ball round the post.

Whilst Forest were creating the chances Brighton were by no means done as attacking threat and only good defending from Forest, who earned their 20th clean sheet of the season in this draw, prevented an energetic Seagulls attack. The standard off play however never regained it's quality after the interval with close control and neat passing being replaced by clumsiness and wasted possession.

Brett Ormerod, trying to make it three goals in three games cut in from the left channel only to unleash a tame shot into the body of Kuipers. The big goalie then made his only real mistake of the game as he fumbled a Matt Thornhill chance, only to scramble to the ball before an on rushing Cohen.

Joel Lynch, who had spent a lot of time on the Forest turf in this game, had Brighton's only real effort of note in the second period when the centre half tried his luck from around 40-yards out. Smith, albeit of his line, was never troubled as the ball drifted over the bar.

Forest's quality left them in the latter stages and the crowd grew frustrated. The introductions of McGugan and McCleary were greeted well by the home support and it was Lewis McGugan who early sent the place wild. A clever darting run saw him pull the trigger from about 25-yards from the right side. Everyone in the ground thought it was in the net as it beat the despairing dive of Kuipers, only for the ball to hit the inside of the post and roll right across the other side.

A game that promised so much ended, in current circumstances with so little to show. Both teams really would have wanted the three points on offer but it was evident that Dean Wilkins's team were the happier with their point. Forest fans showed their displeasure after the game and 11 points is now the gap between Forest and the second automatic promotion spot. Whilst mathematically still possible people are less than convinced that it's any thing other than another Play-Off year for the Reds.

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