Forest 2 City 3
An evening of extraordinary events at the City Ground ended with former Forest boss Gary Megson celebrating his first victory in charge of Leicester City, as the Foxes defeated the home side 3-2 in a Carling Cup second round tie.
The game began in bizarre circumstances when Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith was allowed to dribble from the halfway line and walked the ball unchallenged into the City net. This drew some half-hearted cheers of amusement from the home sections of the crowd, but only later did it dawn upon most of those present that the goal would be allowed to stand.
Afterwards the club explained this action was meant as a gesture of goodwill to Forest for their agreement to abandon the original tie three weeks previously. Both the Football league and FIFA (who are currently running a “Fair Play” week) have also acclaimed this generous gift. So the decision not to announce it in advance appears as inexplicable now, even in the warm afterglow of victory, as it did at the time.
The players, to their credit, fought hard to put the early setback behind them, and despite suffering a further blow when midfielder James Wesolowski was forced out of the game with a hamstring injury, managed to pull themselves level when Alan Sheehan scored with a superb 25-yard free-kick…
* Sheehan nets gis 2nd free kick of the season
However the optimism among the visiting hordes at the half-time interval was dispelled during a half which, for long spells, followed the pattern of so many previous encounters at this venue. Indeed, once Nathan Tyson had outpaced Gareth McAuley to restore Forest's lead, it appeared that a home victory was the only possible outcome. Even with the introduction of Richard Stearman and Matty Fryatt from the bench, City seemed incapable of turning back the red tide.
Somehow, though, the players found it within themselves to produce the fighting spirit for which their predecessors were once respected, even feared. With just three minutes remaining, Stearman found space in the Forest penalty area to turn and fire past Smith for the most unlikely of equalisers.
* Former Trust syndicate sponsored Stearman celebrates our second
But barely had the Foxes come to terms with the prospect of extra-time, before skipper Stephen Clemence decided the destiny of the tie with a 20-yard shot which eluded Smith's despairing dive and found the back of the Forest net.
The final whistle, only seconds later, was greeted with more euphoria than would usually be appropriate for a win over struggling third division opposition. Although the Foxes may have been slightly fortunate on the night, in the context of the many injustices suffered during the past 35 winless years away at Forest, it was no more than we deserved, especially in the light of the moronic racial abuse emanating from some embittered sections of the home support.
The victory, however, was not without its cost. Apart from the Wesolowski injury there is still the fate of Clive Clarke to consider. He gave more for the City cause during the course of this fixture than any player – even one not on loan – should ever be expected to do.
Leicester: Fulop, N'Gotty (Stearman 73), Kisnorbo, McAuley, Sheehan, Hume, Clemence, Wesolowski (Chambers 19), Mattock, Campbell (Fryatt 61), De Vries.
Subs Not Used: Henderson, Marco Ferreira.
Booked: Chambers, Kisnorbo. Goals: Sheehan 31, Stearman 88, Clemence 90.
Nottm Forest: Smith, Chambers, Wilson, Morgan, Bennett, Clingan, Lennon (Perch 76), Cohen, Tyson (Holt 86), Agogo, Commons.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Breckin, Sinclair.
Goals: Smith 1, Tyson 64.
Att: 15,519. Ref: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation
*All pictures courtesy of Raymonds/lcfc.com