Plymouth proved to be the perfect opponents for our warm-up for the play-offs. They gave us plenty of space in midfield which Majewski, in particular, took full advantage of. After missing a couple of early one-on-ones through Earnshaw and Tyson we soon got back into the usual rhythm. Majewski’s excellent through ball found Earnshaw to score with ease and then Plymouth’s clearance from Moussi’s right wing cross hit Blackstock to double the lead.

The second half was a non-event with Forest easing their way through the game until adding a third in the closing stages. McGugan’s control let him down but it fell perfectly for Anderson to chip past the keeper.

With a better pitch, there were signs of a return to the free flowing passing of earlier in the season with Majewski and Moussi both having more influential games in midfield. MOTM Morgan continued his impressive run of games this season with a dominant display. In terms of the play-offs, only the performances of Perch and Tyson leave question marks over starting places for the home leg. Neither showed enough quality to suggest that their places are guaranteed.

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM Wes Morgan

Up to twelve and counting now. Whilst the players looked our strongest starting XI, we started with an unfamiliar line-up with Majewski playing on the left and Anderson down the middle. This didn’t really work, missing Anderson’s running wide and Majewski’s involvement in central areas and we swapped after about half an hour.

Anderson had one dipping shot, well saved, from outside the area but nothing really to get excited about. Out of nothing, that changed as we entered injury time. MOTM Morgan won the ball on the half-way line, it found it’s way to Anderson down the left and his pull back found Morgan first time with a rocket from 22 yards.

Whilst the first half was pretty tough going with too many passes going astray, after the break we started to show a bit of the footballing side from earlier in the season. Admittedly, we were helped out by the early red card for a blatant hand ball with Earnshaw running in on goal. Palace looked disorganised and struggled to cope being a man down for long spells. Their few chances all came from Ambrose free kicks but Camp was alive to produce two excellent saves to keep them out.

We made the most of the man advantage and found plenty of space in midfield with Anderson looking lively again down the left hand side.

It was good to see Tyson finally get a break and being allowed to play down the middle. He’s been treated primarily as a left winger this season without really being considered in his natural position. His first touch from Anderson’s pass took him round the keeper to score from a narrow angle. Fellow sub McCleary created problems down the right but just lacked that conviction to go for goal having down the hard work himself. One left foot shot looked to be heading for the bottom corner until a decent save turned it away.

Both Tyson and McCleary made a difference in the closing stages and their pace on the break could be invaluable against tiring defences in the coming weeks.

Cohen, looking much more prominent in centre midfield, had the chance to complete the evening but skied his shot from the penalty spot when it looked easier to score.

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM Wes Morgan

The scoreline implies that we took a battering but there were never three goals between the sides. We looked comfortable until the first goal but a crazy 15 minutes later the game was well and truly lost. By the end we looked ragged and we had to be grateful that our indiscipline didn’t result in us losing any players to suspension.

For the fifth successive away game, we left without scoring. We haven’t beaten an opposition keeper on our travels since Cohen beat Carson at West Brom. On that occasion we stifled and outnumbered their midfield with Moussi, allowing us to hit them on the break. It’s quite surprising that we’ve changed formations and players since without reverting back to this approach.

After destroy them in the corresponding home game, you can see the logic in starting Earnshaw but too often he was a passenger in the side when we were desperate for someone like Moussi adding fight into the midfield. In the closing stages, we should be able to introduce him against tiring defences.

After a scrappy opening to the game, it was Forest who started to look like a footballing team and exert some pressure on the home side. A series of long range efforts were blocked by their defence and the closest we came was Earnshaw’s flicked header off the bar. Half time arrived at just the wrong time for us.

At the other end, there was nothing to fear from a team built around endless long balls from back to front. They had a few set pieces but Wilson and MOTM Morgan looked in commanding form.

It was a similar story at the start of the second until poor defending from a set piece cost us badly. We had chances to clear the ball from our area but they kept the ball alive and found themselves with an easy chance. Even if they hadn’t scored there was plenty of dubious shirt pulling that may have resulted in us conceding a penalty.

The turning point of the afternoon started with our own attack. Earnshaw crossed from the right for McGoldrick to square for Perch, his goal-bound shot hit a defender on the line and was cleared. With their next attack, they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. The finish was unstoppable into the top corner and left Camp with no chance.

We looked a mess at this point and it was no surprise when they added another. A low cross shot from the left, with Wilson playing them onside to score from close range with a neat finish. One of those afternoons were everything went right for them in front of goal and Perch’s miss costs us badly.

This looked like a game too far for some of the squad with the midfield in particular struggling to impose themselves on the game. Blackstock did everything you could expect but lacked support around him as Earnshaw never really stayed close to him. Tyson and McGoldrick joined the game in the second half but neither did anything to suggest that they were going to turn the game in our favour.

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Tags: Games Lost, MOTM Wes Morgan

Our disappointing run of away games continues with another narrow defeat, this time at Doncaster. We don’t concede or score too many on our travels so a one nil score-line in either direction is always going to be a likely result. For the second time in a week, we suffered some poor officials with a blatant early penalty shout being turned down and it taking 42 minutes to receive a single decision in our favour.


Davies rested some key players and gave opportunities to Adebola, Tyson and McGugan to make a case for being included more regularly. Unfortunately, none of them did anything to suggest that they are capable of figuring with the new-improved Forest. Missing the likes of Earnshaw, Blackstock and Anderson was never going to give us the best chance of three points.


The continuity of team selections seems to have disappeared in recent games with players appearing and then vanishing again unexpectedly. A few weeks ago, we appeared to have a settled pattern for away games but we find ourselves back to the early season problems. Amongst all of this, the unwillingness to give Lynch an opportunity at left back remains questionable.


After a scrappy start, we should have been given the opportunity to take an early lead from the penalty spot. Majewski’s bit of quality found Gunter charging into the area only to be caught from behind with a blatant foul. An unpunished tackle from behind on Adebola plus Majewski’s booking for ‘diving’ also went against us.


We got caught out with one left wing cross that Camp tried to anticipate but Sharp nipped in to score with ease. For long spells, the performance resembled away trips under Calderwood rather than the quality of this season.


In the second half, we created another couple of chances but neither Adebola or McCleary could hit the target when well placed. McCleary made a slight improvement with the extra pace and potential of creating something from nothing. However, one over-ran ball and reckless lunge saw him dismissed. The reaction of their players didn’t help, with all off them surrounded the referee as soon as the tackle occurred.


Camp had a rare poor afternoon with some rushed clearances and got caught out for the goal trying to second guess the flight of the ball. Wilson had his worst game for a while and struggled to live with the pace and movement of the lively Sharp. Despite being up front on his own, he caused problems for us all afternoon.


MOTM Morgan was often the spare defender tracking the runners from deep and clearing up any knock downs. One of the few players to perform anywhere near their potential on the day. Gunter was okay but struggled to contribute much going forward and Perch’s insistence on bring the ball back onto his stronger right foot ended all pace to left wing attacks and will never get the best from Tyson.


McGugan barely figured for the time he was on the pitch and was lucky to come back out for the second half. Compared to the running and effort of Majewski and Cohen, his work-rate wasn’t good enough and, yet again, didn’t make the most of his opportunity. McKenna is suffering a dip in form and badly could do with a break, but with our limited options, there’s no way we can do without him. Lacking composure on the ball, too often he chose a first time pass without looking to give the ball away.


Majewski was unlucky to get booked for the alleged dive but it was disappointing to see our creative player leave the game when we needed him the most. That still doesn’t condone the needless boos that accompanied the change. His replacement, McGoldrick, continues to seem more interested in fancy flicks without showing any real goal threat or work ethic that’s been installed into most of the side. It’s still very early to write him off in a red shirt though.


Tyson struggled to contribute anything of note apart and missed the one clear chance we created all afternoon. Majewski again found him charging through on goal, only to shoot tamely straight at their keeper. Cohen struggled to find any form in the first half but was the one driving the side forward after the break with any real quality.


The game was setup for Adebola to cause the home defence real problems. Both starting centre-backs had to be replaced but he struggled to win anything of note in the air. On the few occasions, he found himself with the ball at his feet, it was soon given away. With the style of football we play on the break away from home, it’s essential that the lone forwards competes for everything and is capable of bringing others into the game. Had one chance when through on goal, with a bouncing ball, but could only ‘shin’ it into the crowd. Blackstock added a little bit of quality to the game but the sending off of McCleary set us back and the game drifted.


Playing on the break away from home will always require us to make the most of any opportunities that come our way. With our reserve forwards on the pitch, it was too much to ask on this occasion.


We badly need two good home results, against tough opposition, this week to relieve the increasing pressure from the chasing pack behind us. Our home form remains key to how the rest of the season will unfold.

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Tags: Games Lost, MOTM Wes Morgan

It was a classic game of two halves; Forest easily the better side in the first half and we should have been ahead before Blackstock scored. After the break it was a different story. Our tactics changed at half time and we sat back confident that we were good enough to prevent them from scoring.

Over the past few weeks you can see just how difficult to beat we’ve become. Despite handing Newcastle the majority of possession, they very rarely threatened Camp. One disallowed goal and Blackstock’s miscued clearance off the line by Majewski was the closest they came. At the other end, we couldn’t reproduce the quality of the first half but had still done enough to deserve the three points.

After quietly climbing the league in the past few weeks, this impressive performance won’t go unnoticed by the rest of the league. The first half display was as good as anything we’ve seen in a long time.

Blackstock was unlucky not to score with one diving header well saved, later he saw another free header hit the post and away to safety. Tyson hit a volley on the turn narrowly wide. Anderson cut in from the left wing and his curling shot found their keeper again. Have played so well it looked as though we wouldn’t get any reward. However, Majewski had other ideas; he picked the perfect pass between their centre halves for Blackstock to score with ease.

Billy got his tactics spot-on with the selection of Moussi in midfield, allowing Majewski to roam free in and around Blackstock. Against Blackpool, this tactic backfired with Moussi and McKenna getting in each other’s way.

As usual this season, Camp was rarely involved in the game. We were outstanding at the back with Wilson and MOTM Morgan challenging, blocking and dominating their forwards. On the few occasions that they avoided our centre backs, you could rely upon full backs Gunter and Cohen to arrive from nowhere to clear up the danger.

Moussi was in inspired form, winning tackles and looking composed in possession. It was a very welcome return to the form of his early Forest career. McKenna complimented him perfectly in terms of work-rate and commitment but still plays too many blind rushed passes.

 Majewski was involved in everything good about us going forward, dropping into space between midfield and forwards where Newcastle couldn’t get close to him. His inclusion in this role brought out the best of Anderson in particular due to his direct running off the ball.

Blackstock is certainly making himself the number one striker at the club. It was another impressive display, causing them problems throughout.

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM Wes Morgan

Whilst the result looks pretty decent, we really didn’t make the most of another promising performance and this season continues to frustrate. Defensively we looked solid and restricted Wednesday to very limited chances but we failed to take control of the game and should have made more of the chances that came our way. There are signs that we’re not far away from being a decent side but we’ve yet to properly click as a team.

We started fantastically and should have scored in the first minute. Anderson’s run was not matched by Garner’s scuffed shot saved by their keeper. We kept attacking and were rewarded when Anderson crossed for Blackstock’s unmarked header shortly afterwards.  The pair combined again after Anderson’s left wing run but Blackstock sliced the effort wide when it looked easier to score.

Camp hadn’t been really involved in the game but found himself beaten with yet another deflected goal after we failed to clear. Having looked comfortable in the lead, we never really recovered.

Unfortunately we couldn’t find a similar start to the second half and found ourselves on the back foot straight away. We got lucky from one goalmouth scramble that we were unable to clear but Wedensday seldom came close to scoring. We scrapped and fought in midfield but struggled to retain possession for long enough to consistently threaten at the other end.

We still created enough decent chances through Anderson down the left to have won the game. McGoldrick didn’t expect one cross along the six yard box whilst Blackstock didn’t react to another chance that bobbled to the keeper.

We lacked a clinical edge up front and it was disappointing to see Earnshaw remain on the bench whilst the few chances on the break continued to pass us by.

Camp was his usual dependable self with numerous claims from their set pieces to take pressure off the defence. Very rarely threatened and no chance with their deflected goal.

After some below-par games this season, Gunter looked like he was finding his form again. Despite playing recent internationals he was still charging forwards in injury time trying to make that important contribution. In a decent defensive display, Lynch was the one weak link and the one area that they might have capitalised on. With Wilson’s recovery, this position still remains a priority.

Chambers and MOTM Morgan looked a dominant combination throughout apart from one scramble early in the second half. Their centre forwards barely got a kick and hardly figured in the game. With players returning from injury, a new centre half is looking less of a concern.

No complaints on the effort from McKenna and Cohen in central midfield but they struggled to find much quality moving forwards. In Majewski’s absence, we missed that ability to pick out an incisive pass.  

Anderson had one of his best games for the club with a series of direct runs on the break. Time and again, we didn’t make the most of his dangerous counter attacks. Unfortunately, he found himself out of the game for long spells in the second half when he should have been giving the ball at every opportunity. With more quality and anticipation from those around him, he would have been the architect of three points for us.

Garner got booked again and didn’t really contribute much after the early miss and was replaced by McCleary at half-time. McCleary did nothing to suggest he’s a better long term option with a poor half’s display when everything went wrong for him.
Blackstock and McGoldrick looked dangerous in short spells but they missed the key chances that came our way. We’re still waiting for the forwards to click and an obvious front pairing to develop.


 

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Tags: Games Drawn, MOTM Wes Morgan