What an afternoon. If you’re going to break your league duck for the season, you might as well save it for your biggest rivals. The fall-out from this game is going to hang around for ages and the return fixture will be a fiery affair.

Last season, we failed to deal with the threat of Commons and Hulse whilst Savage ran the show in midfield. However, this time, the improvements to our squad were evident and we more than matched them. Commons struggled to have any impact and was replaced at half-time. Hulse was handled much better by Morgan and Chambers but still remained dangerous.

We’ve got a group of players willing to fight for the shirt and each other and not let the likes of Savage walk all over us. McKenna and Majewski dominated in the first half but Wednesday’s extra time caught up with them after the break.

Having taken a deserved lead into half time, we let them back into the game with a couple of freak own goals but we still ended up worthy winners. Their improvement after the break was due more to the tiredness and panic that set into our own side rather than any quality from the visitors.

Camp was threatened more by his own side more than anyone in a white shirt with Chambers slicing a clearance narrowly wide.The fun and games at the end has been completely exaggerated. Tyson obviously intended to complete a lap of the ground with the corner flag before their players started all the trouble. Before they got involved, he was nowhere near the visiting fans. It’s convenient to ignore the fact that there are also home fans at that end of the ground. A little misguided on his part maybe but it didn’t deserve the reaction from Leacock and his mates.  There was only one team who were the aggressors on this occasion.

Clough and his players obviously have very short memories of the antics of his players after last season. You didn’t hear any sour grapes from Forest when Savage was enjoying his scarf waving; we simply took the defeat, regrouped and got on with the season. Now it just looks like anything to take the attention away from a defeat by their local rivals. You just expect a little more from Clough jnr.

Camp was in commanding form all afternoon. His decision making was spot on throughout, with a series of confident catches. A couple of smart saves in the first half but very rarely required after the break despite Derby’s extra possession.

Gunter saw a return to last season’s form with a much improved display at both ends of the field. The rest of the defence struggled, especially in the second half when Derby came back into the game. As ever, Cohen looked good in possession but struggled against their wide players at times especially when Croft joined the game. A new left back has to be a priority with Wilson’s imminent return from injury.

Chambers typified the change in our player’s performance more than anyone. In the first half, he was dominant and comfortable in possession. However, the second half was a different story. Suddenly he looked rattled and more likely than anyone to make that mistake to let Derby back into the game. Morgan dealt well with the threat of Hulse but lacked a calming influence alongside him in the latter stages as the panic set in.

MOTM McKenna was the main man in midfield yet again and continues to lead this team by example. Unlike last season, Savage found himself second best as we established a winning lead. Carried from the pitch in the closing stages which left us with ten men, keep your fingers crossed for some positive injury news for our captain.

Majewski started the fun and games with an amazing strike within the first minute and continued to cause problems for the remainder of the half. Similar to his midfield partner and in common with most appearances this season, his influence decreased after the break. Once he gets used to the demands of this league and starts performing for longer spells, he’s going to start making a real impact for us.

Despite an early booking, Garner showed all the fight you need in this sort of game. He made some decent crosses from the right and starting to justify his selection ahead of Anderson. His presence makes us a much tougher team to beat. Never let Savage and Commons settle into their usual routines.

Tyson was quiet for long spells in the first half as we tended to threaten down our right. He made the all important contribution on half time with an excellent run to take advantage of Blackstock’s intelligent through ball. Much more involved in the second half as we looked to catch them on the break.

McGoldrick’s seems to be improving with each game now. Looked more switched on that at QPR and his movement, often down the right, caused them problems throughout.

Blackstock worked as a lone striker for the majority of the game with one of the other strikers taking it in turns to get close and provide support. He’s a proper footballing centre forward who ran himself into the ground and replaced early after the break. Always looking to bring others into the game and his presence will bring the best out of his strike partners.


 

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM Paul McKenna

There were certainly positives to be taken from the game. We restricted them to very few chances with Chambers, McKenna and Majewski all prominent. As with most opponents this season, QPR were nothing special and we didn’t make the most of the game.

At times we looked bright and incisive but these were all too infrequent with us often drifting into aimless hoof ball. We have to keep the ball on the floor and play more football, the players are clearly capable of doing this. Instead, we launch aimless balls to Adebola and expect him to compete against a defence full of 6 foot plus defenders.

I don’t think there’s too much wrong with the side. We’ve lacked a little bit of luck or benefitted from a refereeing decision, an early goal would do wonders for our confidence. The deficiencies in defence are obvious and Lynch’s new injury just compounded this. In midfield, we badly miss Cohen’s consistency, effort and enthusiasm and his presence would benefit the side. Up front, the selection of the strikers seems pretty random at the moment and some stability would be nice.

During the opening spell, there was only team in the game and we should have taken advantage from a string of chances. Majewski, carried the ball forward to the edge of the area, the shot was well saved and the rebound fell to Garner whose bottom corner effort was turned around for a corner.

Garner missed the next chance that came our way. Cohen’s perfect cross from the left only required the slightest touch from six yards but an air shot resulted in the chance wasted. Shortly after, McGoldrick cut inside from the right and put his left foot shot wide of the far post.

Predictably, QPR came back into the game but the opening goal came from nowhere, a long range effort destined for the top corner with no chance for Camp.

We started to put some pressure on the QPR defence after the break and eventually our direct approach paid off. The move was started by Camp’s long ball, Adebola’s flick on, with McGoldrick applying a smart finish.

After we equalised, we stopped pressing them and barely threatened. For the closing stages we even reverted back to 451 instead of believing we could win the game.

Camp didn’t have much to do, one full length save from a free kick stands out, plus one late incident where he found himself without the ball in midfield. Fortunately, the offside flag came to his rescue.

MOTM Chambers was outstanding at centre half as he eased himself back into the side after suspension. He cruised through the game, looking calm in possession and a steadying influence. He was ably assisted by Morgan who didn’t do much wrong alongside him and kept the QPR forwards very quiet.

We looked a bit weak at full back where Gunter, Lynch and then McCleary struggled to prevent crosses and didn’t make things hard enough for their opposing wingers.

It was a similar story with the wide midfielders in front of them. Neither Garner nor Cohen look settled in this positions and it seems a weird choice with the likes of Anderson waiting in reserve.

McKenna protected the back four as well as ever and competed with their midfield all afternoon. Numerous last minute tackles and interceptions, standing up to their midfield. Majewski showed some very nice touches in patches, unlucky not to score but struggles to contribute for the whole game. If we’re going to persist with someone out of position down the left, then I’d like to see him out there and get Cohen back in the centre where he belongs.

Up front, Adebola worked tirelessly for the team and ran himself into the ground in the end. Too often, the service he received was poor or his team mates didn’t get close enough to him to take advantage of his good play. McGoldrick took his goal very well but drifted in and out of the game too often.

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Tags: Games Drawn, MOTM Luke Chambers

No complaints with the starting line-up with Earnshaw and Blackstock up front and McGugan back into midfield. After a tough start, this looked a decent chance to get the season up and running but things weren’t going to turn out that way. We never really looked like a settled side and allowed a disciplined but average Watford side to turn out worthy winners.

The early stages were end to end with both sides very close to scoring. Anderson took advantage of some dodgy defending but couldn’t beat their keeper and then Tyson created a decent chance for Blackstock but off target. At the other end Camp produced a decent low save and then found himself nowhere from a right wing cross that should have been converted.

After a promising start, we started to lose our way after McGugan’s unfortunate collision with their keeper. Another one of those incidents that didn’t go our way on the night. The resulting rebound didn’t fall for one of our players with their keeper stranded.

The game was going nowhere when they scored from nowhere. Cohen and Lynch got in each others way and Morgan lost out at the far post with Camp stranded. Poor defending all round.

We looked pretty hopeless for the most of the half, resorting to aimless long balls with little build-up play. The referee missed a blatant hand-ball to prevent Earnshaw getting through on goal but nothing much to get excited about. The equaliser,on half time, was a surprise. McKenna’s ball found Blackstock with a good first touch and calm finish.

Suddenly we started playing again and we didn’t want the half to end but couldn’t find that finish. It looked as though we had to improve in the second half and still looked set for three points.

Having got away with patched up defence, we got caught out time and again in the second half and deservedly got a hammering. When we played properly, we created chances but these were very rare and no complaints on the final result. Too often, we lacked any purpose with no real ideas of how to break down a resolute defence. Their centre backs were more than capable of dealing with a succession of long balls and we didn’t possess the quality to change the game in our favour.

One right wing throw in wasn’t lacked that dominant clearance and they took advantage. Shortly after, they took advantage of a non-existent midfield to score from the edge of the area.

Substitutes McGoldrick and Adebola looked lively and they combined for the latter to score with a steady finish. Normal service was resumed with more poor defending allowed them to kill the game off.

Camp didn’t have much chance with the goals due to the woeful defending in front of him. Cohen in particular found himself exposed on a regular basis and all the goals originated from that side of the pitch. The sooner he finds himself back into centre midfield, the better. Morgan, Lynch and Gunter all had poor nights.

McGugan had looked okay in the early stages but now finds himself out for weeks with a fractured cheekbone. Replacement Majewski looks okay in patches but not yet capable of a central midfield role on a long term basis. MOTM McKenna found himself over-run in midfield with no obvious support around him. Anderson and Tyson showed promise in patches but neither made the most of decent openings that presented themselves. We badly lack Cohen’s energy and presence in midfield as displayed all through last season. Regardless of the effect on the defence, he has to play in his best position.

With Earnshaw you have to accept that he won’t contribute much during the ninety minutes but he has the ability to score goals from nothing. Unfortunately, with him lacking sharpness in front of goal and that clinical finish, you’re carrying a passenger already. Blackstock looked reasonable in patches, took his goal well but the service was pretty poor.

Adebola was lucky not to get sent off for a blatant elbow but produced a neat finish for his goal. McGoldrick also looked lively on the right wing and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see these two leading the line in Billy’s next random front line generator at QPR.

Tags: Games Lost, MOTM Paul McKenna

We didn’t really deserve that result and did more than enough to warrant (at least) a point against an unadventurous and ordinary West Brom side.
 
Albion barely showed any attacking intent throughout the game. Apart from the early free kick and the freak own goal they showed very little ambition. Greening displayed a few moments of quality but the rest of the side resorted to cynical fouls, time wasting and the pathetic diving of Craig Beattie.
 
Despite our obvious defensive absences, our problems were at the other end. We missed a series of chances including an Earnshaw penalty whilst Albion accepted the gift own goal and couldn’t wait for the game to end. Adebola missed a couple of relatively straight-forward chances and had another ‘goal’ harshly ruled out.
 
Camp was barely involved throughout. One impressive save from an early free kick and apart that that, very quiet. In front of him, no obvious weak links as the back four and midfield restricted West Brom to very rare attacks.
 
MOTM McKenna continued his form from Reading, controlling everything in midfield and even finding team to burst forward and get a couple of efforts on goal. He’ll form the heartbeat of the team in midfield and will be vital to our season. He provided a barrier in front of the defence, whilst still finding time to drive the team forward and get shots on goal.
 
Majewski started brightly but faded in the second half when we badly needed someone to compliment McKenna’s presence. McGugan looked to have a point to prove when he joined the action and looked a better option overall. One definite change that we should be considering for Tuesday’s game.
 
Anderson also started very brightly with a series of dangerous runs down the right but again faded in the second half and it wasn’t a surprise when he was replaced. His presence gives us a much better balance and never fails to get back and help out the defence.
 
Tyson looked a threat throughout and caused numerous problems down the left despite the heavy challenge in mid-week. The standard of his final crosses was pretty good and too often the quality of his runs wasn’t matches by the finishing of his team-mates. It’s definitely worth persevering with him down the left.
 
Garner struggled to make any real impression on the game and it was hard to work out exactly where he was playing. Too often he’d drifted back into midfield when he needed to be much closer to his striking partner. He’s not doing enough to justify a starting place so far – admittedly only two games in.
 
Adebola worked tirelessly for the side and caused constant problems throughout, even up against their physical centre backs. Should have finished at least one of two rebounds that fell his way and had another goal harshly ruled out. The only slight downside of Adebola’s inclusion is that we tended to become a little predicable, looking to find him at the edge of the penalty area regardless of where we’re in possession.
 
Blackstock joined the party for the closing stages and looked sharp. One towering header looked to be heading for the top corner until Carson produced a smart save.
 
Whilst Earnshaw will rightly be criticised for losing the mind games with Carson, it was his direct incisive run that caused produced the rash challenge. Carson messed around on his line; Earnshaw started, stopped, stuttered to the ball and then scooped it wide. Pretty poor for someone of his experience when all he should be concentrating on is hitting the target.
 
The choice of the front two continues to cause debate. Adebola caused problems throughout with an impressive first touch and ability to bring others into the game. However, Garner never really got close enough to make the most of Adebola’s build-up play and for long spells we looked a little disjointed, almost playing 451. Blackstock also looked a real threat when he joined up with Earnshaw for the latter stages and deserves to be given an extended spell inthe side.
 
I’d like to see Earnshaw and Blackstock given a chance on Tuesday with McGugan also getting a start. Earnshaw’s quality in front of goal (penalty apart) should make him first choice up front.
 
There was still plenty to be positive about from the performances of our make-shift defence, to McKenna in midfield and Tyson / Adebola up front. At least Tuesday’s game against Watford an early chance to get this out of our system.

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Tags: Games Lost, MOTM Paul McKenna

A determined defensive display earned a valuable away point against a side who’ll be challenging again this season. We’ve carried on the improvements from last season and look much more resilient as a result. With a little more quality from wide midfield areas, we might have even taken the three points.

Surprisingly, Davies kept faith with Garner on the right hand side of midfield and McGoldrick up front meaning the likes of Earnshaw, Anderson and Blackstock were left on the bench.

There was nothing between the sides in the first half. McKenna and Adebola presented McGoldrick with a decent chance that he could only drag wide. Majewski also failed to hit the target from another promising situation. Another long range effort from McGoldrick at least forced a save from their keeper.

At the other end, we looked comfortable with McKenna providing stability in midfield. Time and again, he was there to break up their attacks and get us moving forwards. Gunter and Morgan provided other noticeable defensive performances but Camp was rarely involved.

Our best spell of the game arrived for the twenty minutes after half time. We started to take advantage of some decent service to Adebola, getting players around him in support.

Garner found himself in a promising position on the edge of the six yard box but should have put the ball across the goal instead of the near post. Gunter ran at their defence, cut inside onto his left foot but the half-scuffed effort didn’t really trouble their keeper.

Despite some dubious defending, Lynch remained a threat further forward and created our best chance of the game. Earnshaw read the cross before any of their defence but his effort hit their keeper and bounced to safety.

As we made further positive changes, bringing on McCleary and Tyson, Reading came back into the game and started to push us back. Things looked even worse following Chambers’ red card, completely out of the blue. A cross from their right wing was headed over the bar; there were no appeals or obvious fouls committed but the linesman thought otherwise. 

Too often, Reading found space down our left hand side but decent defending and poor finishing kept us in the game.

Camp looked in command throughout and wasn’t slow to hand out well deserved abuse to those in front of him. A series of comfortable catches took the pressure off the defence especially in the closing stages.

Gunter continued his form from the end of last season. He looked assured in possession and comfortable defensively. He showed clever play to ‘earn’ free kicks to relieve the pressure when required. We were very rarely threatened down our right hand side and he got forward well to support Garner.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Lynch down the left. Time and again Reading took advantage of some poor marking and we had to defend pretty well from a succession of dangerous crosses. Still manages to produce moments of quality going forwards but too often gives away too much space to opposition wingers.

Morgan looked in decent shape and put in a typically battling performance. Chambers wasn’t as bad as some other reports might suggest. He’s produced enough decent performances at centre back to suggest that he’s worthy of a place in the side in that position. Unfortunately, it looks like he could become this season’s scapegoat after only one game.

Garner worked hard for the team, as you would expect, but too often looked like a forward making up the numbers in midfield. It was a similar story with Cohen who barely figured in the game and looked to be suffering from recent injury and lack of pre-season. We’ll need a bit more quality from wide areas to make the most of Adebola’s obvious aerial threat.

MOTM McKenna brought a calming influence in midfield with drive and passion that been sadly lacking in our recent midfields. Too often last season we lacked a combative presence in midfield but it looks like we’ve addressed that now. He’s a very positive signing and one player who’ll be key for us this season.

Majewski looked assured in possession but faded in the second half when Reading came back into the game. We should get the best out of his range of passes when there’s more pace in the side. A promising start to his Forest career.

Adebola played much better than I’d expected and justified his starting place. His first touch and instant control brought other players into the game but too often we didn’t take advantage.

McGoldrick’s inclusion in preference to Earnshaw was a surprise and he didn’t really make the most of it. Too often he didn’t seem sharp enough and looked a bit off the pace.
 

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Tags: Games Drawn, MOTM Paul McKenna