Nottingham Forest 1 - 1 Norwich City
Background: Over recent years this has been one of those fixtures to provide us with a convincing home win, albeit the tables were turned in our last two meetings where we threw the home game away against a side reduced to ten men, then totally against expectation in the Christmas Hangover fixture at Carrow Road (and newly bereft of a manager to boot) we come away with the points. Not that Norwich would be any less of a threat this time having mastered the art of bouncing back from opening day setbacks for the second season in a row, apparently due to some serious stock-taking according to their newly-appointed skipper, one Grant (Grolt) Holt formerly of this neck of the wood, and by all accounts well up for the challenge, certainly if their subsequent results have been anything to go by. You could just see the script being written for him to pop up and put one or two past Lee Camp today, though equally we had our own chance of making Delia Smith choke on one of her pies with Earnshaw providing Norwich with a reminder of what they parted company with.
Programme Notes: Amazingly, the BD Young Squad-ometer is unchanged with no mentions at all in his pre-match notes, among his usual frustrations of course with trying to expand his resources. Of more interest, especially for the nostalgic element were reminders of two great incidents taken place within the last ten years, including Johnno's bizarre goal courtesy of erstwhile Canaries (and probably England now as well) keeper Robert Green's howler, together with acknowledgement of the tenth anniversary (to the day, no less) of the thrilling 'Escape To Victory' game at Selhurst Park, with Barry Roche's last-minute penalty save sending those of us fortunate enough to be there absolutely delirious with joy. How fantastic would it be if this season's visit to Selhurst Park be cause for delirious celebrations for a much bigger reason?
The Match: In stark contrast to the Leeds game it was Norwich who started by far the brighter, and the combination of Grolt and Chris Martin caused problems very early on, requiring the upright (twice) and Lee Camp at full stretch to deny Martin and Smith, having both been on the receiving end of some very organised build-up play by Norwich, especially their midfield. Contrast that with Forest who, whilst they had their moments (Chambo in the third minute and Ando twenty after that) were haphazard at best as ball control, movement and positioning were sadly in short supply. Passing was rarely on the deck even in midfield, and there was the usual frustrating back/sideways passing when a move screamed out for a more direct approach. In the main, and especially during the first half, we were very poor in the final third, and the tendency to pump the ball into the air was always going to produce the same predictable outcomes - the ball a) evading anyone in a red shirt simply because of our inability to pour players forward; b) finding the head of a defender simply because Earnshaw for all his talent just isn't able to compete for arial challenges at the receiving end of a long hoof; c) being simply plucked out of the air by Canaries' keeper John Ruddy.So, of course no sooner had I remarked to the bloke behind me our most likely chance of a goal would be courtesy of a penalty (and given our luck in being awarded them at the best of times ain't saying much), lo and behold a penalty was awarded just after the half-hour mark when Ando was brought down by Russell Martin. Not the most convincing case, and it could arguably have been seen as compensation for a much stronger one only a couple of minutes earlier when
Dexter Blackstock was fouled by Barnett. Whatever, it was our chance to take something of an unlikely lead, and Blackstock duly obliged by sending the ball just beyond reach to Ruddy's right. Probably still against the run of play, but we've been on the receiving end of such situations in the past so why should we care?
Why indeed, though yet again it was a soft goal which proved to be our undoing shortly before the break. Another bizarre refereeing decision having awarded a free kick some thirty yards out after Big Wes was left in a crumpled heap over the ball after being fouled - yes, I just didn't get this one at all. The ball sailed into the box where, in the confusion it found Crofts who looped the ball (somewhat hopefully) over Camp before finding the back of the net. How Crofts was allowed to capitalise on the space he had needs to be looked at, especially in a set piece situation which it was. I couldn't bear to watch 2500 Canaries fans celebrate, instead glancing right towards the Directors Box where Delia surrounded by a dozen Norwich hierarchy were on their feet in wild celebration. Another subdued half time, followed by a lacklustre start to the second half where Forest (especially in midfield) barely got a look-in as Norwich dominated (again, especially in midfield) and Blackstock and particularly Earnshaw grew ever more frustrated at the lack of service, and where we've previously been used to seeing Blackstock drop deep to get a slice of the action, today it was Earnie's turn to do likewise, and this at least saw us get back into the game, though no thanks to our midfield who were short on anything remotely creative.
Worse was to follow when Ando was injured in a challenge from Barnett, and you somehow sensed that our chances of winning the game would disappear once changes were made, given a distinctly lightweight bench we had today, and you could fairly safely assume that Tyson was never going to get his crosses in they way he's been playing lately. In fairness McGugan did much better in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch than McKenna had for the previous 70, and The Mousse was at least able to hold steady when he replaced a somewhat disappointing Radi some ten minutes earlier. But essentially the midfield were by-passed today, either through Wes pumping balls aimlessly upfield, or Earnie seizing the initiative from deep within the Forest half and carving out passages for himself. It very nearly paid off, and Robbie must be feeling exasperated having struck the woodwork at close range (albeit from a tight angle) right at the death - you could argue that it balanced out the number of times we were saved by the post earlier on, though that doesn't make it any less frustrating when they dont go in for us. Keep plugging away, Robbie. They're gonna start going in sooner or later!
Still, there was any consolation for Earnie's failure to haunt his old club, at least we were spared the same compliment from Grolt, even though he looked by far the more dangerous of the two 'exes' today. Good to see plenty of friendly banter between Grolt and those in red shirts here long enough to be playing alongside him. I'd say we definitely wouldn't want him back, though I'm pleased to see he has at least matured as a player somewhat.
Timekeeping: According to my mobile at least, this game kicked off on time. Wonders will never cease!
Focus On: A couple of revamped venues to contribute to the matchday experience - the Riverside pub (formerly the Casa/Aviary) with its split level dining, deli and even a bakery, is a classy joint (that'll be a pint please, landlord!) and that's before you've even considered the friendly staff and BBQ facilities; also a timely reflection on the new club shop which is totally unrecogniseable from its previous form and IMO a little sterile with seemingly less choice of merchandise than previous. Well laid out, though a nightmare to the casual browser who can expect to be jumped upon at every turn by over-enthusiastic sales staff (back off, please!) though the decision to remove of the season ticket discount on purchases will surely come back to bite someone in the backside!
Defining Moment/Turning Point: Earnshaw dropping to a virtual right back position midway through the second half having been a virtual spectator for long periods. A kind of 'must I do everything myself?' approach, for which you could hardly blame the guy, having received zero service from a disjointed midfield. A rather unorthodox way for a striker to present himself as a threat, but Robbie did it brilliantly, if nothing else but to give his former club a few scares.
Entertainment Value: Plenty of end-to-end football in the opening stages and later in the second half, with a somewhat scrappy period in between. 6.5/10
Atmosphere: The fact that the home support was well out-sung by 2500 travelling fans for much of the afternoon confirms a telling feeling of unrest on Trentside, and a cause for great concern.
Highlights: The penalty at least helped us claw our way back into the game, and Earnshaw's performance late in the second half helped raise our hopes.
Ref Watch: S Mathieson - Some very random decisions, especially those leading to both goals, and at times looked like struggling to exert real authority on the game.
Stinker: Paul McKenna looked well short of match fitness and struggled to make any of his passes connect. Have we seen the best of Paul and is this the start of a steady decline as recent performances have suggested? Let's hope not.
Stormer: Earnshaw, once he waded into the action during the second half, and was unlucky to be denied by the upright for the THIRD time in four games, though the most outstanding performance of the afternoon came from the man with the mended schnoz, Kelvin Wilson, largely for keeping Grant Holt at bay.
Reflection: In the grand scheme of things I'd say we were lucky to get a point from this considering how much Norwich were up for it, and that alone ought to sound a timely warning for other clubs due to play them in the near future. For us, even though we're actually a point ahead of the same stage last season, it's further endorsement that in terms of building on last season's successes it's still not happening, and is unlikely to without at least some competition for places, yet the roaring silence from the so-called acquisitions panel continues, though elipsed only by the growing unrest among fans and BD alike. With Gunter suspended, McCleary out for some time, plus if Ando's injury fears are realised, we will yet again find ourselves in that situation experienced six years ago when poor decisions and inaction on the transfer market are exacerbated by ill fortune. This simply must NOT be allowed to happen again. When will the club ever learn?
Premiership Chump Of The Week: Despite the FA's decree that all managers must make themselves available for post-match interviews with all interested parties, including the BBC, Alex Ferguson continues to see himself above that, despite the fines now applicable (obviously insufficient as a means of enforcement). Oh, for heaven's sake, man - put your little feud in the past and grow up!
