Team: Ikeme, Hill, Stewart (Ramage), Gorkss, Connolly, Buzsaky, Faurlin (Ephraim), Leigertwood, Quashie, Taarabt, Simpson (Vine).
Subs Not Used:Cerny, Hall, Cook, German.
Attendance: 23,293
I thought that we hit new depths last night. There was little application and no sign of any game plan whatsoever. Forest were flying and we were at a total loss. Did we really think that we could just turn up, swan around and get a result ? We made no attempt to close them down, or get at them and just let Forest settle. Work rate ? I wonder what Mick Harford said to the players before the game ? Not that it would have made much difference. We threatened little up-front and as for the midfield, best not go there !
JJcolls
I was very surprised when I read some of the stats from last night. According to them, Forest ‘only’ had six shots on target and that we had as ‘many’ as five ? It was dismal but I always try to look for the positives but I can’t really find any ! Earlier, the talk was of the sale of Routledge and we progressed up the motorway still generally in positive mode despite never ever winning there coupled with all the recent off-the-field drama (what’s new ?) There are still road works in the Luton area and I have to say that the pre-match Greek meal was better than last time. The only regret being that I only had the one pint ! There was a good turnout of nearly 700 R’s fans. Three of the England cricket team were introduced to the crowd, Broad, Swann and Sidebottom plus Jason Lee which provoked the old chant from many R’s fans concerning the pineapple on his head.
Not surprisingly, Forest looked super-confident and we didn’t. They closed us down quite easily and they always seemed to have enough players in acres of space. I for one would of loved to have seen Routledge out there but you have to get over it. Sorry, but Buzsaky doesn’t look fit to me ? At the moment, I don’t think he should even start and what’s happened to his free kicks ? One of his in the first half sailed limply into the keeper’s arms.
After 18 minutes the home side were awarded a free kick after Leigertwood had fouled Blackstock. Earnshaw’s free kick was from just outside the box, dead centre and sitting behind it, you just knew where it was heading. Three minutes later, Quashie lost the ball in midfield and Anderson then knocked it out to Earnshaw who burst forward and fired the ball into the corner of the net.Gorkss’s foul on Earnshaw in the box looked a little bit soft but it was up the other end and therefore difficult to judge. But the referee pointed to the spot and Blackstock stepped up and made no mistake. Cohen’s goal was belted from outside the box which Ikeme got his hand to on its way into the net.
I think that it was Perch who got past Ramage as he headed for the bye-line and then Forest had three or four goes at the ball from close range before he finally banged it in. Simpson wasn’t in the game very much and I was surprised that it was Vine that replaced him and not German. But on the other hand maybe it was just as well in the circumstances. Thanks to Jimmy for the lift.
Steve Russell