Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 Ipswich Town
Ah, that's more like it (eventually!). Another one of those occasions where anticipation of our performance ranging from the dazzling stuff we saw during December/January to the dross we saw during the first half at Preston barely a month ago was matched by the proverbial game of two halves as we saw equal rations of both. Grand National day, which at least meant that history dictates we shouldn't lose today - albeit only
Dexter Blackstock will be in a position to remind us of one notable exception five years ago (good quiz question to share among fellow fans there!).
There was little doubt that Spring had finally arrived on Trentside given the number of both sets of fans enjoying the sunshine by the banks of the Trent at lunchtime before the serious business of cementing our place in the playoffs could begin.
Once it did (three minutes late, once again!) it was actually the visitors who looked more like playoff contenders by pouring forward in numbers in fairly aggressive fashion, rather like Cardiff did here on Easter Monday. And although we forced several corners in the opening stages they were, on the whole poorly taken, and when the pendulum swung in the other direction, we struggled to contain them at first, with some desperate defending in response to them attacking on the counter (Murphy drawing a good save by Camp and Norris narrowly missing from close range) and a string of corner kicks. This onslaught by Ipswich was considerably longer than the one we endured against Cardiff, and it was past the half-hour mark before we were able to keep the ball in their half, although it was beginning to look fairly obvious why the goals seem to have dried up of late.
Without the influence of McKenna or Majewski we once again lacked shape in midfield, and although Blackstock worked his socks off, both he and Earnshaw looked like typically frustrated strikers starved of service, although Earnie did miss a good chance set up by Cohen with a cross from six yards. Not that Ipswich made it easy for us as they denied us space, to the extent they almost caught us out during an apparent lapse of concentration between Camp and Wilson when Wickham pounced on the rather lacadaisical exchange between the two. This was not the only time Wickham threatened, and shortly afterwards fired past Camp across goal and loud sighs of relief could be heard all around the ground as the ball flew wide of the far post.
But the most frustrating aspect of Forest's game of late reared it's head in a similar way to what we saw at Preston when every time we appeared to break and an incisive pass forward (which we have proved well capable of this season) seemed so glaringly the obvious choice, we instead resorted to sideways (and sometimes backward) passing almost like a rugby team which straightaway allowed Ipswich's defence to regroup, leaving Anderson and Tyson the almost impossible job of putting in a decent cross. Fortunately BD cottoned on to the fact it wasn't working, and shortly before half time Ando and Tyson swapped roles to give Tyse more scope down the left.
It worked. We were a team transformed as the second half got under way, and within two minutes we took a surprise, if somewhat fortuitous lead when, following a free kick by Cohen, Earnshaw's shot from 20 yards hit
Luke Chambers on the thigh and wrong-footed a startled Murphy as it diverted into the bottom corner. It's a while since I've seen one of these deflected goals, and whilst they earn no points for artistic merit, they all count, and the timing of this goal could scarcely have been more crucial. Not that Chambo was in the best frame of mind after the celebrations had died down as he was clearly limping, hastening his ultimate replacement by Perchy, though his contribution to the game was well acknowledged by the fans almost as a fitting postscript to the feature in today's programme documenting his frustration at the lack of starts he's managed this season. Great response, Chambo!
Suddenly, as if completely galvanised by this advantage, we took the game by the scruff of the neck. All that direct forward passing we'd missed during the first half suddenly started to happen as though a light had come on in the heads of each player in a red shirt. Particularly pleasing was Tyson getting the measure of Jaime Peters (the Johnno lookalike last seen here two years ago with an appearance for Yeovil, causing us a few worries after pulling a goal back on promotion day) whose pace at the back provided at least some resistance to a crumbling Ipswich defence.
The second goal was not long in coming.
Chris Gunter, having picked up an Ando pass was the main architect with one of his superb incisive runs down the left, though it looked like someone would still have a lot to do with the box being tightly packed with players from both sides, and as the ball pinged about in a confined space it was
Guy Moussi who managed to emerge with the ball long enough to poke it past Murphy from close range.
The transformation from a nervy and disjointed team to the unit which has thrilled us for much of this season was complete. By the time Radi and Boyd for the excellent Ando and Tyson came on the game as a contest was over in reality, however the thrills and spills were far from.
Two minutes after Radi's arrival we were three up. Tyson, however was still playing and having once more got the better of Peters fed the ball across to Blackstock where it again pinged about before finally reaching Earnshaw on the edge of the six-yard box. The angle was fairly tight, but unlike Easter Monday Robbie calmly picked his spot and gave Murphy no chance from six yards. Hope that back's holding up with those continued celebratory flips, Robbie!
Five minutes later we almost went one better with Boyd making a timely reminder of what he's capable of by advancing forward in a similar fashion to that he made on his debut against Swansea. Too bad the shot screwed wide, but some more of this in our remaining games, yes please!
With the pressure off, it was easy to forgive Earnie for not mustering an extra couple of feet of pace right at the end as he went one-on-one with an advancing Murphy as the ball broke clear. If the scores had been level at that point maybe it was worth a try, but with our season about to go into extra time now is not the time to risk unneccesary injuries.
Indeed, with three games remaining BD now has an interesting dilemma as he considers who to play and who to rest before the playoffs begin, yet the question over who what and where is in need of continuity which may yet see continued appearances by some of the more regulars among the team. Assuming some changes are made starting next week at Blackpool we may need to bear this in mind if it doesn't quite happen at Bloomfield Road the way we'd like, but equally the chance of playing at Wembley must surely be in the back of every player's mind as the competition for places can start all over again.
Meanwhile on a day in which West Brom's promotion is confirmed, we remain at the head of the chasing pack and hopefully can stay in either third or fourth place with our remaining fixtures to ensure a home tie in the second leg. BD is fully entitled to break open the champagne in recognition of reaching the playoffs with three games to spare, and given the progress made since this time last year that is some achievement. I do hope however that he is aware of the heartache we've endured in two previous rounds of playoffs, especially given his own awareness of what playoff success and failure is all about. Potentially of course, Bloomfield Road could be another playoff dress rehearsal, provided they don't have to beat us to get there. That just leaves Middlesbrough with an outside chance, though they have to face Leicester on the final day which may ultimately rule them both out of the running.
There are other incentives of course. If we go all the way we certainly won't have to visit god-forsaken dumps like Fratton Park, and probably not Turf Moor either.
Whatever happens there's an interesting few weeks ahead of us. Play like we did second half today and we'll have nothing to fear. Celebrate now, then let's get to it!
Ref Watch: D Foster - Didn't endear himself to either set of fans with some very selective decisions; the assistants appeared half asleep, missing obvious fouls which had to be overruled.
Entertainment Value: The proverbial game of two halves with a scrappy first half offset by a free-flowing second. Overall 7/10.
Atmosphere: As you'd expect with two contrasting periods of play, with the fans becoming increasingly relaxed and happy during an entertaining second half,
Highlights: A seventh consecutive clean sheet at home; rediscovering some of the direct approach to our attacking football to set up a scintillating second half performance with end product to match; BD's objective of achieving the playoffs is finally realised, with other results today increasing our chances of finishing in third or fourth place.
Lowlights: Disjointed first half, during which Forest at times appeared so casual you wondered whether they actually wanted to score, such were the backwards/sideways passing, not to mention the number of times they gave the ball away.
Stinker: One of the bizarre aspects of the season: Moussi's passing has been a total liability and today was no exception - during the first half at least. Fortunately the same can't be said of his tackling and shooting, with another goal to offset an otherwise patchy performance.
Stormer: Nathan Tyson - the switch with Ando just before half time made all the difference and Nathan worked his socks off in his role out wide today, being instrumental in setting up the third goal.
Premiership Chump Of The Week: You knew the Germans were going to be quick to react to Alex Ferguson's latest Sore Loser 'Typical Germans' whinge at Bayern Munich supposedly singling out the vulnerable Wayne Rooney on Wednesday. And you know what? They're dead right!
