| Reporter:
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Stanno |
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| Only 5015 people turned up at The City Ground tonight to see Forest take on 2nd Division Bristol City. Forest never really got into top gear during this match against a side that offered only hard work and grit. The Reds dominated possession, playing some really neat football at times, without managing to transfer their superiority into the goals that would have ended this tie as a contest after this leg. This was mainly due to the fact that Freedman had one of those nights that he will hope to put behind him quickly. |
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| Forest took the lead in the 12th minute with a well taken effort from Marlon Harewood, who tonight produced his best performance so far in a Forest shirt. Latching on to a through ball from Alan Rogers, Marlon controlled the ball in a flash, pushed it wide of the defender and thumped his shot under the keeper and into the net. The lessons from IW seem to be paying off! |
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| However, Bristol had obviously not read the script and while Forest were still celebrating they ran down the other end and equalised. Having won a corner, Tinnion's cross found Jordan who glanced the ball goal wards. Rogers appeared to head it off the line but the assistant referee indicated that the ball had crossed the line and City were level. |
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| Harewood 's pace and strength were causing Bristol lots of problems, and a surging run and cross found Freedman in space only 5 yards from goal but his effort went tamely wide. Nigel Quashie also went close on several occasions with powerful shots, but all efforts went wide of the upright. |
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| After the break Freedman again should have extended Forest's lead. Following more good work from Harewood, Dougie again found himself in front of goal and only a few yards out, but this effort too was screwed wide when it seemed easier to score. It was left to Alan Rogers to finally get the Reds ahead after 56 minutes. A free kick from just outside the box appeared to catch the keeper un-sighted and the ball fizzed into the bottom corner of the net.
Further goals should have followed but the Reds were unable to make any further addition to the score line.
Forest should still be capable of progressing to the next round, although they will surely feel that this tie should be over. At least those fans who make the journey down the M5 to Bristol should see a relatively full strength side out. |
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| Forest Man-of-the-Match:
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Marlon Harewood |
