City 3 Nottingham Forest 0
With the 5 – 1 away defeat to arch local rivals Notts Forest still ringing in the City Supporter’s ears, it was with a fair degree of optimism that the recent good league form and the away win at Doncaster mid-week would give the Foxes the impetus to give the Reds a decent game and at least obtain a draw and, hopefully a glorious victory.
Websites and Emails during the week were talking the crowd numbers up and a Full House was a possibility and certainly walking to the Walker’s from Welford Road indicated a good crowd was going to be there for the battle ahead.
As the kick-off became closer, the seats filled up and the Forest fans filled their corner of the ground, a good atmosphere as is usual with a big crowd. A Premiership Referee, Mr. Probert was put in charge, the League probably expecting a good “battle” between the two promotion rivals.
Nigel Pearson selected Matt Oakley, who was rested at Doncaster, and Paul Gallagher for Nolberto Solano and Danny N’Guessan. The defence remained unchanged as they are finding great form at a critical part of the long season. Forest won the toss of the coin and surprisingly kicked towards their own fans. A minute’s applause for ex City player Bobby Smith, who had recently died of cancer at the young age of 56, and credit to the Forest fans who joined in the clapping…..
The Foxes started the better and several passing moves led to a corner won by Gallagher that came to nothing, then after another corner, Morrison’s shirt was nearly pulled off his back but Mr Probert turned away the protests, but then had to return to the goalmouth as Forest’s keeper, Lee Camp, was injured on the goal line.
Martyn Waghorn then received the ball just inside the Forest half, ran head down towards the Forest goal past several Forest defenders, but his shot on his wrong foot went wide as the City Supporters were on their feet expecting a net buster!
Tackles were going in and one notable one was from Jack Hobbs with an excellent clean tackle on Cohen just outside the box, coming away with the ball. Richie Wellens then went in too hard and was yellow carded, and thoughts came about his sending off not long ago. We could not go down to 10 men now.
Majewski then had a shot easily dealt with by Chris Weale as the game swung from end to end but without any real quality shining through. Oakley seemed to be struggling in mid-field, but Andy King was working hard, but balls up to Waghorn from defence were easily dealt with by the tall Forest defenders as chances for opening the scoring were few and far apart.
Then panic at the back as a ball into a crowded box found the head of the shortest player on the pitch, Rob Earnshaw, his header crashing against the cross bar with Weale well beaten, and with Earnshaw’s second effort scrambled clear the warning signs were evident to the City defence.
Earnshaw was then booked for delaying a free kick and then Majewski was carded for diving when a City player’s caution looked as if it was coming to him. Half-time came after a generally disappointing first half, comments being heard “one goal either way will settle it.”
An even start to the second half with Weale saving easily a Majewski shot, and as City attacked, Oakley, Dyer and Waghorn combined well but no threat to the Forest goal. A Waghorn free-kick into the box found Morrison’s head and as his effort hit the crossbar, the Lino’s flag went up.
Gallagher then broke away, passed to Oakley who returned the ball to Gallagher but his shot went wide, but signs were that the Foxes were starting to believe they could win this as the faithful started to cheer them on more often and louder and in the 67th minute, the home fans were ecstatic as the City took a deserved lead.
A Morrison shot was blocked, the ball found Wellens who ran at an angle towards the Forest Fans, taking 4 or 5 Forest defenders with him. A clever back heel found Bruno Berner 6 yards out and he crashed the ball into the roof of the net. The City fans went wild with joy, in the lead against the Forest? Yes!!!!
In such a game, in the past City have usually sat back and defended a narrow lead until the end, but, thankfully this time, they started to play some attractive football and pushing forward to extend their lead, and this positive approach was duly rewarded in the 78th minute. A foul 20 yards out led to a free kick that Gallagher, Waghorn and Dyer hovered over the ball, Gallagher winning the right to take the kick and he duly obliged with a shot into Camp’s top left hand corner.
The Walkers erupted again as the Scotsman ran away from his team mates, kicking the ball back into the crowd. A Tyson effort was blocked by Berner and then 2 minutes after City had made it 2-0, a third goal came along. Dyer received the ball on the edge of the box, with his back to goal, looked up and found Berner 25 yards out, who shot and there was Andy King 12 yards out to deflect the ball into the far corner of the net.
Were the Foxes fans in Dreamland? Was this really happening? 3-0 up? Wow!!!!!
With 5 minutes to go Kermogant came on for Wellens and he started to win balls in the air upfront, as City pushed for a fourth. Chants from the East Stand Kop aimed at the departing Forest Fans “Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio” and then the Mexican Wave started. Great. Fantastic. Fabulous……….Even the Sheriff of Nottingham had slinked off to Sherwood Forest! Where was Robin now?
With 5 minutes injury time, Adams replaced Gallager and to soak up more time, Howard replaced Waghorn, the departing Foxes players all receiving a standing ovation. Although the Forest player’s heads were down they still tried to pull a goal back and a McKenna shot was saved by Weale, and finally the whistle came and revenge was achieved as the City fans enjoyed an excellent victory against their local promotion rivals.
The drive home was enjoyable especially as Cardiff had lost, cementing our fifth place in the Championship and a play-off place looking good – would Forest be our opposition? Still, many games to go but with Pearson stating “We can go for automatic promotion”, is the Premiership next season a reality? Buy that Season Ticket – NOW!!!!!
City: Weale, Morrison, Hobbs, Brown, Berner, Gallagher (Adams), Wellens (Kermogant), King, Oakley, Dyer, Waghorn (Howard). Subs not used: Logan, Solano, N’Guessan, bruce.
Forest: Camp, Perch, Morgan, Wilson, Anderson (Tyson), Cohen, Gunter, McKenna, Majewski (McGoldrick), Earnshaw, Blackstock. Subs not used: Chambers, Adebola, Smith, Moussi, McGugan.
Referee: L. Probert Crowd: 31,759
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