Reds Grind Out Another Win


It is often said the measure of a good team is that one that doesn't play well yet still wins. Well that was Forest today.

Ok, perhaps saying we didn't play well is unfair, it is hard to do so against a team that instantly put 8 men back behind the ball when not in possession as Bristol City did today, and they looked fairly well organised in doing so. Make no mistake, City were here to try and frustrate and strangle Forests creative play.

Chances in this game were few and far between.Early on, Earnshaw bought a save out of James with a well taken free kick, which maybe should have come to more from the rebound. Cohen certainly should have done better when left with a free header just 6 yards from goal that he connected ever so slightly with. A great chance begging, after the cross in by McGugan.

City had very little to show from their first half toiling. This illustrates their game plan perfectly, frustrate Forest as much as you can and see if a chance can be made. And with Jamal Campbell-Ryce in their team that ability is there. He is a player that has always impressed me with whatever side he is visiting with. Tricky on the ball and with good delivery, he was a danger today.

At times Forest seemed to not know what to do. Movement and delivery of throw-ins was ponderous at best. A mixture of Lynch indecision and a lack of want from other players around him.

The second half and an early goal for the Reds, McGugan was fouled and the delivery from Cohen was met by Chambers head to put the Reds one up. The header seems almost to gone in slow motion past David James in the City goal.As the delivery came in, I had thought it would be better if Cohen aimed back post and see if it sneaks in like a couple have in the past, but what do I know, Forest went in front, which was better for the game as it would force Bristol City to become more adventurous in looking for a goal.

And City certainly did look more lively in the second half, putting more men forward when on the attack. Adomah had chances, forcing Camp into a rare save, and then later firing high and wide when he ha more time at the back post, although Lynch was in close proximity challenging.

But Forest had chances too, none as clear cut as before, mainly people getting in the channels and failing to get a cross onto a Forest player and it being cleared. The one real time it fell to a Forest player in the box, McGugan shot was abysmal. Way over the bar from such a proximity to goal.

The game drifted to it's inevitable conclusion with Forest taking a good win. Moussi was once again the star of the show, Camp was left with little to do, Lynch at times looked a little scared about what to do, but then many of the team didn't seem great. Tudgay had a quiet match, Tyson was active again, but only in spurts, and McGugan save for a clever flick to the offside Tudgay was largely forgettable.

All in all job done, no complaint's here. And Forest are now breathing down the necks of the automatic promotion places.

Comments