The highest attendance of the season witnessed Forest continue their
amazing winning streak against a battling Yeovil side badly in need of
points themselves. The total of 28,193 (boosted by Kids For A Quid) was
the forth highest in the country and shows the potential support for a
successful side.
According to Radio Nottingham, in each of the past 5 weeks only 2 of the
top 8 have won. One of those teams has been us in each case. Just shows
the reliance we've had on others to fall away to have made this rapid
rise up the table. Not that this should take anything away from our
achievement.
We named an unchanged side with Thompson keeping his place in midfield
with Perch and Southall continuing on the bench.
For only the second time under Charlie & Frank, we had to come back from
going a goal behind. Breckin conceded a needless free kick by barging
Jevons when Morgan had the situation under control. Pedersen spent ages
on the post lining up the wall and Jevons took a quick shot into the
empty goal. Both keeper and defence should have been more alive to this
happening.
Forest didn't panic and continued to attack in search of an equaliser.
We forced numerous corners and free kicks which brought us increasingly
closer to scoring. In the end, the usual near post routine from Clingan
to Breckin worked a treat to give their keeper no chance. The service
from Commons/Clingan/Southall is very finely tuned and we look like
scoring from every set piece at the moment. A real advantage in this
division and which makes the most of the height advantage from
Morgan/Breckin/Grant Holt/Bennett etc.
Forest had numerous other chances in the 1st half whilst Yeovil very
rarely threatened. Free headers by Grant Holt and Commons just past each
post should really have been taken.
The second half started with Forest continuing to attack. A surging run
from Gary Holt found Tyson who shot disappointingly over the bar with
his right foot.
The game changed when Clingan was injured in a challenge and had to be
replaced by Southall. His first 3 contributions showed why he should be
one of the first names in the team. Firstly, he beat a couple of men to
cross from the right. Next, he met Common's cross from the left with a
clever flicked header just past the post. Then, his close range header,
after Tyson's shot was saved, put us 2-1 ahead. His ability to create
and score goals is something no other midfielder is able to do
consistently at the moment.
Shortly after, Tyson skipped down the right, pulled the ball back to
Gary Holt who fired narrowly over the bar.
Yeovil's only real chance followed a mistake from Breckin. A cross from
the right, missed the captain as he slipped. Fortunately, Jevons shot
first-time over the bar with only Pedersen to beat.
Grant Holt then won the ball in midfield, played the ball out to Commons
and continued his run into the area. The pin-point cross found Holt who
headed narrowly over the bar.
The 4 minutes of injury time passed without too much trouble and another
3 points pushing us up the table. As before, all the other results were
celebrated both on and off the pitch.
Even though he's been very impressive in the past few weeks, Gary Holt
continues to improve. The only word to describe today's performance was
immense. Completely dominated the midfield and supported both defence
and attack in the way that he used to for Norwich. One of the best
performances in a red shirt this season and another MOTM display.
The other Holt, Grant, was a close second with yet another all-action
display. All that was missing was a goal to round off as hard-working a
display as you could expect to see from a centre forward. Unfortunately,
the 'rough diamond' showed he stills need polishing with a couple of
air-shots when he really should have done better. Linked up very well
with Commons and Tyson and a real team player.
Tyson worked hard alongside him but it wasn't really his day. The
combination of Grant Holt's strength and Tyson's pace makes their
partnership very effective.
Praise due to John Thompson for getting on with the 'dirty work' and
allowing Holt to contribute in a positive fashion. Still a useful squad
player which every team needs. Looks much comfortable in midfield after
being messed about during the Megson era.
The defence continues to look solid. Curtis played well as right
back/winger and providing good service to the forwards until Southall's
arrival provided the natural width.
Great to see Southall back on the right wing looking lively, making
clever runs and of course, scoring goals! Let's have him back in the
side as we need more creativity at home and sometimes struggle for ideas
down the right hand side. You would never want to see any of your own
players injured but I doubt Southall would have made an appearance if
Clingan hadn't been limping. These things are just going for us at the
moment.
Pedersen still fails to convince me after flapping at a rare Yeovil
attack and his lack on concentration for their goal. Not to mention his
poor kicking. Needs to communicate better with Morgan and Breckin in
front of him.
Yet another great team performance and good to see Forest accept the
Yeovil goal without panicking and just carry on attacking. Would be nice
to finish some of the flowing moves we put together but that killer
touch just evaded us today. We have a tendency to rely on set pieces for
goals but long may this continue to get us out of this division.
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