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| Welcome to ..... the away end! |
Crikey, it’s good this winning every week. Despite having played 2 days earlier, compared with Forest’s 3, we triumph once again. And that despite (because?) having Roberts and Morsy suspended and Marley and Winnall ‘rested’. (How can Marley be rested, he’s only just come back from suspension, ironically after that fracas v Forest at home). Mind, they were without arch wind-up merchant Lansbury, a transfer target for every Championship team with money, it seems.
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| A stall on the riverside |
Of course, we had an axe to grind. And coming only a month after the 2-5 home debacle, I really fancied us to turn them over. There’s no way a team as poor as Forest could do the double over us…could they? And I guaranteed my 2 guests there’d be goals. I must have sounded confident; my mate didn’t take up my bet there’d be at least 3 goals in this one. Phew. I also guaranteed them lots of brouhaha over some socio-economic kerfuffle or other some 31 years ago. They certainly got that, as every other chant involved the word ‘scabs’. I love it.
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| Outside the Trent End |
We controlled the 1st half. But Forest weren’t as dumb as Cardiff and never came forward enough for us to hit them on the break. Also, we kept giving the ball to Kent…who kept giving it to Forest. No surprise then that he didn’t return 2nd half (Marley on) cos all I heard at half time were Reds fans moaning about him. Scowen missed the big chance of the half, somehow blazing high and wide from 2 yards out on the back post.
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| The teams come out. Come on you |
2nd half, Hammill took over Kent’s role, losing the ball constantly. About the only thing he managed was to time waste late on off corners. You can imagine how wound up the defenders were getting as Hammill dummied his way to (their) infuriation. Otherwise, neither side looked like scoring. Winnall had a one-on-one saved (but was flagged offside anyway) while they had a header off the bar. Then Lord Bendtner came off the bench for Forest to cut inside and fire home. Cue celebrations in the Forest end…which were soon joined in by us as we realised it had been chalked off for offside. Given he beat a defender, we could but presume he’d come back from an offside position. It was at the far end – so I’m sure the linesman was right!
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| The view behind the goal |
I do take issue with one ‘official’ stat. If Forest never had a shot on target, how comes me and my mate can remember Davies tipping a long shot round the post. I remember saying ‘nice height for the keeper’ (one for the cameras). Maybe those who study these things thought it was going wide? Didn’t look it.
Then, with 2 mins left, up pops the Championship’s best player (allegedly). Certainly most ‘assists’ this season (FYI: Marley is joint 3rd!). The ball drops kindly, and while I’m telling him not to shoot from so far out, Conor cracks a 30 yarder on the half volley over the keeper and into the net. An absolute screamer. The away fans go ballistic and Forest applaud a great goal. (I made the last bit up.) With 2 mins left, we are home and dry, particular once we’ve got a corner and they’ve no idea how to get the ball off Hammill.
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| The (not so) Tricky Trees |
*** Yiadom. Quality defending, as well as the ability to go forward, all on his ‘wrong’ side. Who else but BFC and Yiadom would have the left back rampaging past 2 defenders to win a corner in the 92nd minute? He is as fit as a butcher’s dog.
** Ryan Williams. I’d love to say how he put in a cracking 90 minutes, the 1st time in….well, possibly ever for us. But despite having a massive say in midfield, he was dragged off with 10 left for Armstrong.
* Hourihane. You can’t argue with a goal like that.
Londontykes' top 3:
1. Yiadom 2= Williams/Hourihane
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| Looking towards the Trent End. |
Despatches:
I firmly expected the Forest crowd to insist on the home side attacking, thereby giving us chance after chance on the break, but it never quite turned out. They looked like what they are; a side devoid of confidence doing their best not to lose. Davies had little to do, possibly cos Bree had another stormer on the right. Jackson came in for Roberts and marked a lot tighter than previous; he really was up the forward’s ar5e. (Forgot to say, Assombalonga missed a sitter of a header from a corner 1st half). Scowen and Bradshaw were pretty anonymous. Perhaps the latter prefers a front 2? SSW came on for him with half an hour left and did what he does when he doesn’t score. And Armstrong had 10 mins of which I can’t remember anything about him.
Will Winnall get 20? Chris in Beckenham has offered me double or quits on Winnall. Hecky has heard I can’t afford to lose any more money and put SSW on the bench today. I wish he’d done this in November (before the goal rush!)
Onwards and upwards!
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| The sun sets over Forest's chances. |
Drink du jour: Hicksy was on watering hole duty and took us to Aunt Bessy’s breakfast club or summink. Basically, an American eaterie with a few different beers on tap. Not our usual, but everyone was pleased with the tucker, despite being surrounded by families. Then onto that pub with the canal in it. With work tomorrow, there was no room for spirits. Lager lager lager (Bitburger, Stella and whatever I drank over the canal)
Away: c2000. For a club with monetary issues, I’ll give them some advice: give the away club a bigger allocation, cos you’re not going to sell out the other 28,000 seats.
The Damage:26 train
20 ent
3 prog
=£49
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| City Ground panorama |
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