Forest 0 City 0
Report by Kate Thompson
For once, the tired cliché held true. City could not seem to get going in the first half but put much more pressure on Forest in the second, and really should have won it; Dyer missed the easiest chance but others were equally guilty. On one occasion I said to my sister that I could have scored it when I had one leg in plaster!
There were three changes from the last game, with the two usual full-backs fit again after injury and Gallagher restored to the team. Tunchev started again and this time played the full 90+ minutes; I understand that Radio Leicester gave him ‘man of the match’ and I wouldn’t argue with that.
The first 15 minutes were difficult for City. Young Jeff Schlupp, playing in his first FA Cup tie, went to ground with what seemed an innocuous injury but which proved to be quite serious and could mean his absence for some weeks; this happened within the first five minutes and City seemed to be rattled by it.
In the space of seconds, Schmeichel made a wonder save and Mills prevented the follow-up from finding the net. It was not to be the last time that Schmeichel kept us in it and he was by far the busier keeper in the first half, with his opposite number Lee Camp being largely a spectator.
It was frustrating stuff and despair began to creep in. Too many players had an off day, and I would single out Gallagher and Beckford as being particularly ineffective. Beckford continues to look as if he doesn’t want to be playing for the City and on the odd occasion when he stirred himself to actually chase a ball, one had to rub one’s eyes in surprise! There is a rumour that he may go back to Leeds and I, for one, would be very pleased to see him go. I thought Yakubu was lazy, but at least he scored goals!
I’m pleased that Nigel Pearson obviously wants to do well in the FA Cup just as much as I do and he must have had strong words at half-time. In the second half, City gradually began to play better although there was still considerable room for improvement.
With half-an-hour to go Pearson brought on Wellens for Abe and Dyer for Gallagher; the latter seemed unhappy to be substituted but he could have no complaints, having missed two pretty easy chances. City continued to pepper the Forest goal, in front of their own fans, and it seemed only a matter of a time before someone scored. But sadly no-one had their shooting boots on and the game went to a replay at home on 18 January.
I still have faith that Pearson will find the answers but it is clear that he still has a lot of work to do. The team was generally a long way below what we expect to see and only a handful justified their place.
The defence was pretty sound but the midfield laboured; up front Nugent was as willing as ever and Dyer, when he came on, was lively and always looked likely to unlock the door – but then his miss right at the end summed up a disappointing and frustrating afternoon.
Now we know the draw for the next round, I hope it will spur the players into stepping up a gear, as they really should beat a Forest team lacking in confidence and in the relegation places in the Championship.
The post-match news that Doncaster have accepted a bid for Billy Sharp was welcome – assuming that he agrees personal terms. We need someone who knows where the net is.
City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, Tunchev, Konchesky, King, Abe (Wellens 60), Danns, Gallagher (Dyer 60), Nugent, Schlupp (Beckford 5). Unused subs: Moussa, Weale, Kennedy, Taft.
Booked: Danns, Mills
Forest: Camp, Gunter, Chambers, Lynch, Freeman, McCleary (Anderson 82), Greening, Moussi, McGugan; Reid (Harewood 66), Tudgay (Blackstock 78). Unused subs: Boateng, Derbyshire, Smith, Makewski.
Attendance: 18,477 (7,848 away) Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear)
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