Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Reading
Despite a thoroughly enjoyable holiday in New York, I was in little doubt I was going to be missing some real fun and games as we headed into the Christmas period, and as I chased disconsolate Preston fans back home that cold Saturday night, little did anyone suspect the convincing win we'd inflicted upon them would lead to just one chapter of the management merry-go-round which has taken place since. Who else? Megson succumbs to fan power yet again, so it seems; the streets around Turf Moor are daubed with 'Judas' as Owen Coyle fills the vacuum; Paul Hart's rough ride continues, while Brian Laws lands on his feet following the fallout at Hillsborough to take over a (for now at least) Premiership club. Never a dull moment.
And that's all before Forest continued along a similar vein of form which they had enjoyed in the weeks prior to Christmas, historically a period in which our form takes quite a dip, and whilst trying to remain optimistic, I couldn't help but wonder how we'd perform as we tried to prevent Watford doing the double over us.
Needn't have worried, as it turned out. And the comfortable win over Coventry kept the run going, which inevitably prompted the question: how would we fare at The Hawthorns, and would this be the night our incredible run would come to a halt? By 10pm that Friday night my only gripe then was that I'd chosen not to attend, instead taking the easier option of watching the game in the pub with some fellow Forest refugees. I was as delirious at what I'd just seen, as I was disappointed the next day to find minimal coverage of the game in the national press, despite most fixtures being decimated by the weather, instead having to read all sorts of drivel about the Arsey Whinging One encouraging deliberate handball to halt a game. Thankfully faith was restored thanks to Jamie Redknapp who commented that even with a full fixture list going ahead, it is unlikely we'd have seen a more exciting performance than Forest the way they demolished West Brom. So, we are getting noticed, albeit slowly.
And then there's the Cup. The fact our run is over for another season IMO hardly matters, but yet again Forest gave more than a satisfactory account of themselves, and with some of those chances capitalised on against The Blues, we might well have been looking forward to a trip to Goodison Park next weekend against an Everton side with their tails well up what with being the only Merseyside team left in the Cup thanks to our visitors today pulling off one of the two major shocks of the 3rd Round to leave the tenure of Senor Benitez hanging by a thread.
So then, much to smile about going into today's game, with the prospect of an interesting game against The Royals on a high from Wednesday night, whilst we try to bounce back from our first defeat of any sort since September, whilst hoping to stretch the league run still further.
There's something strangely curious about 2-0 scorelines, something we managed quite easily by half time today. Many a game we've won at a canter by the same scoreline, and yet I've seen us on the receiving end of the same after an abysmal showing. Yet today, even after Ando's opener after just eleven minutes, you still thought it was going to take at least another goal to make this game safe, especially given Reading's ability to snatch late goals as they demonstrated midweek. Sure, we were playing very well, in fact I would go as far as saying that for long spells during the first half, this was some of the best football I've seen played by anyone this season. It was simply a joy to watch.
It was a neat pass from Earnie to Cohen which started the move which lead to the first goal. Cohen then sliced through Reading's midfield and defence like a knife through butter, and although he was then in a reasonable position to shoot, he considered Anderson's position even better. Cohen then crossed to the left and Ando had a relatively easy job to finish it from twelve yards. I say relatively, since he scooped the ball upwards and we've all seen them sky over the bar at one time or other, so it was a relief to see the ball drop low enough to land in the back of the net.
Our domination became total. The slick passing had us all moaning with delight as we marvelled at the way each pass found its target, and any challenge by a Reading player was swept aside with such ease, as if Forest always had a plan B, which they adopted with considerable authority. We won the ball in the air, on the ground, in the final third and deep within our own half, and sufficiently confident to still pass the ball around near the corner flag before finding an opening, rather than simply blast the ball into BC Upper. Not so long ago we would have just done that or, worse still, get caught out by playing too much football. Most notable was the sight of Dexter Blackstock dropping back to help the back four with some superb tackling, whilst next minute on the receiving end of a cross at the other end, albeit just wide. Majewski was practising his shooting in typically wayward fashion just as he did at The Hawthorns, which prompted the possible theory that the third or fourth attempt would result in something resembling that stupendous goal he scored last week such is the way our appetites are now having seen what we're capable of.
The next good chance saw Earnie on the receiving end of a Cohen cross directly in front of goal. He volleyed it well enough, however it was straight at Royals 'keeper Federici who still had to dive to block the shot. You had the distinct feeling Earnie was on a mission with a point to prove today, if nothing else but to atone for that penalty miss against Birmingham two weeks ago. [I never saw the spot kick - didn't have to, since I was reliably informed it was a carbon copy of that cringeworthy run-up he did against The Baggies back in August.]
Minutes later, and with half time approaching, Earnie did just that. A brilliant link-up with Majewski to plough through the Reading defence before Earnie advanced left into the box where he calmly slid the ball past Federici. Not bad for a player who only 24 hours earlier, we were informed would take no part in today's game on account of the hamstring injury which had ruled him out at The Hawthorns last week. Miraculous recovery, or part of BD's brand of psychobabble designed to lure opposition teams int a false sense of security? You decide, but whatever it is, it seems to be working handsomely.
Two up then, and it really ought to have been three when, in stoppage time Blackstock was set up by Cohen (this guy was amazing today) and slid the ball just wide with only Federici to beat. A glaring miss, which we hoped would not return to haunt us. A packed City Ground was still applauding a well-worked move as the half time whistle went and loud cheers accompanied the players as they left the field. At the other end Lee Camp could have had the deckchair out for the entire period having been reduced to being a mere spectator, and having not a single save to make. It's a good job I resisted the temptation to mention that to anyone sat round me at this point in view of what happened later, but we'll come to that.
Not surprisingly, Reading woke up for the second half as we took a while to get back into gear, and for the first time in ages it was noticeable how slack we became. We started defending deep and Gunnar Thorvaldsson started causing us problems as our defence looked in danger of falling asleep. Enter Lee Camp, still revelling at deservedly scooping Player Of the Month award, and proceeded to demonstrate exactly why, not once but twice to deny Thorvaldsson in spectacular fashion.
Nerves beginning to creep in? That was just the start. The real test came in the 68th minute when, still with our defence drifting into slumberland, Shorey brought down Jimmy Kebe advancing into the box. Penalty, for which there could be no complaints, and since Shorey was last man, the ref had no choice but to send him off, so sparing Shorey from completing the game against his former club. Brian Howard lined up to take the penalty. The whistle went, the ball was struck and loud applause duly followed. Well, that's how it normally happens, isn't it? Only today, it was us doing the applause. Campo dived to his left to parry the ball away with both hands whilst the stands simply erupted in an explosion of noise. What a save, WHAT A SAVE!! There was no denyin cg how crucial this was as we looked in danger of letting this game slip from our grasp, and maybe this was our Get Out Of Jail Free card just being played.
But the feeling of complacency had failed to wake us up, and now we had to hold out with ten men against a Reading side who, even following the missed penalty, felt they could yet take something from the game. Some changes were made as Perchy came on for Earnie, Tyson for Blackstock, and Chambers on for Radi. Not the most pleasant of prospects for Chambo as he had good reason to be irritated by the presence of Shane Long (rather like I have by the sound of Alan Carr's voice on Radio 2) who himself had come on only three minutes earlier. Barring the history between these two, the greater worry was the momentum Long might give his team, especially with a little trickery or something. Don't get me wrong: I still think The Royals deserved their win over Liverpool midweek, though I'm less than convinced the way Long went down to win the penalty that took them into extra time..
It was clear Forest were now in defensive mode, even when Reading's mistakes allowed us to break, and we enjoyed the rare sight of defending deep into their half, playing possession football and showing little desire to add to the scoreline.
Unfortunately, that is what Reading eventually did, deep into stoppage time when Howard sent in a cross which Kebe was able, from close range to apply the gentlest of touches to send the ball past Camp, whose disappointment at conceding this late goal was in serious danger of overshadowing the two amazing saves earlier in the second half, not to mention the penalty stop, though it goes without saying how absolutely crucial that was, since had they scored from that I could well have been reporting on a game in which we initially so utterly dominated yet contrived to give away our advantage and the game peter out into a draw, or even for Reading to snatch a late winner.
Thankfully that wasn't the case, and BD will no doubt focus on the second half lapses whilst we (the fans) can still marvel in the total football of the first half. The league unbeaten run goes on, and having overhauled The Baggies, suddenly Newcastle dont look totally out of sight (though, like many others, I would have preferred our head-to-head at St James Park to have remained scheduled to take place on the Saturday rather than a Monday evening).
What impresses me most is the resilience of this Forest side which has helped the good feeling to return to Trentside. Of course we all thought the Play-off season under Paul Hart seven years ago was the real deal, yet the Boxing Day defeat at Hillsborough was just one example of how fragile we could be. The current situation is light years ahead of that, and whatever BD is doing in his approach to each game, he must be doing something right, just as the so-called Premiership giants continue to trip up.
Long may it continue!
Ref Watch: D Deadman - did OK up until the penalty, but afterwards every decision went Reading's way. Also missed a blatant handball early in the game which would have presented us with a further chance.
Entertainment Value: The classic game of two halves, with the first half described as 'Champagne Football' by Radio Nottingham. The kids-for-a-Quidders certainly got their money's worth today. 8/10
Atmosphere: A bumper crowd was soon lifted by the scintillating first half performance, and chants of 'Are you watching, Liverpool?' along with one or two new ones ensured the fun continues.
Highlights: The whole of the first half was just a joy to behold, and could only be topped off by Lee Camp's match-winning penalty save.
Lowlights: The way we took our foot off the gas after half time was worrying, and something which needs to be addressed before next game.
Stinker: No-one.
Stormer: Absolutely no contest - The talk of Lee Camp becoming an unlikely inclusion in the England squad for SA this summer before this game was only emphasised by his heroics in the second half - and yet so modest was he about it all! Cohen's support, especially for the front runners in the first half certainly deserves a mention also.
Premiership Chump Of The Week: Sir Alex Ferguson - Oh, when will he stop bawling? You just knew there'd be something to moan about last week at Old Trafford as ManUre crashed out of the Cup. The sooner his double standards on stoppage time (amongst so many other things) are properly stamped on by the spineless authorities, and with appropriate sanctions attached, the better.
