If I'd watched this game from a boat then I could understand the swaying motion throughout the 90 minutes. Watford are a gifted passing side who contributed to a tremendous, cup finalish game at the City Ground.

Forest managed to have a shot within a minute of the kick off and that set the mould for the next 89. But it was Watford who had the best of the first 10 minute's. With john Eustace bossing the game, shot's from Williamson and Harley posed an early threat.

The first sway of the game was set by Lee Martin in the 10th minute, as the on loan midfielder curled home a belter from 20 yards out with his right foot, over and round the flailing Mart Poom. 1-0 never looked so undeserved.

Forest took heart from their surprise lead and Cohen should of pulled a ball back from three yards out for Earnshaw to make it 2-0. For some reason Cohen tried to beat Poom at his near post, only for the big Estonian to save. Forest looked a different side from the first ten minute's which is why the next sway surprised the City Ground crowd.

22 gone and a corner for Watford was swung towards the edge of the 6 yard box for Bromby to flick towards Paul Smith in the Forest goal. The big stopper got down well to his right only to see his marvellous save slammed back past him by name sake, Tommy Smith. 1-1, just about as surprising as the Red's taking the lead in the first place.

Queue Forest's poor split personality. Watford streamed forward and the Red's looked all at sea, similar to the first 10 minute's. Another corner from the Hornets was headed back across goal, somehow no one managed to get a telling touch, unlike Robert Earnshaw in the 36th minute.

The Welshman was fed in by the ever impressive Moussi and went 1 on 1 with Poom. Earnie got within 10 yards out and just managed to clip the ball over the on rushing goalie, 2-1 and another undeserved lead.

The lead spurred Forest on again and more chances came and went, Gareth McLeary would have needed Usain Bolt's Jamaican pace to meet a drilled cross from Martin. At half time the whole ground, especially Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd, were questioning how forest lead.

20,005 people re-took their seats for what proved to be just as an exciting second half as first. Forest came out fighting, Lee Martin tried to emulate his first half goal but didn't quite match it, he then saw a half volley fly over, but it was time for the sea-sickness to kick in. A harmless looking ball out to Lloyd Doyley on the right was controlled by the right back then drilled across the Forest box. Whilst the whole of the Red's back line stood like statues Tommy smith smashed the ball home from 15 yards out, un-challenged. 2-2.

The game was now end to end as both side's searched for a third. Watford couldn't carve out any clear cut chances on Paul Smith's goal but the same couldn't be said at the other end. Tyson, introduced for McCleary, swung a dangerous cross into the near post only for Jay DeMerit to somehow scoop it over his own cross bar.

The resulting corner was cleared but from that forest retrieved possession and earned themselves a free kick 25 yards from goal. Earnshaw claimed the responsibility and struck a tremendous right foot curler towards the Watford goal. Mart Poom was well beaten as he dived to his left but the ball struck the inside of the post, ran out and across the 6 yard box for an on rushing Nathan Tyson to blast into an empty net, with only his second touch of the season.

The last twenty minute's of the game were played at a frenetic pace as both side's searched for more goals. The passing ability of both side's meant that the game was open for either to take points on this sunny afternoon.

Tyson , Earnshaw and substitute Sinclair were all guilty of missing good chances for the Red's and as the stadium's noise levels appeared that they couldn't get any louder, the introduction of Andrew Cole for his first League appearance in a Forest shirt was met with rapturous applause, as he replaced the impressive Lee Martin.

After three minute's of agonising added on time the referee finally blew his whistle to symbolise Nottingham Forest's first three points of their return to the Championship. A tremendous game to which both team's deserved credit. Played in the right spirit, epitomised by the fact that neither side had a player booked, despite some hefty challenges towards the end.

4 points from 9 so far and Forest couldn't of expected too much more on their return to the second tier of English football, but it gets no easier! A trip to Molineux next week, but before that a game against Sunderland of the Premiership, at home in the Carling cup 2nd round. See you all on Wednesday night folks.


Alan March,
Commentator for the Visually impaired spectators at Nottingham Forest and Wembley stadium