Month by Month 2010/11 Season Review: January



January began with Forest looking good and optimistic for the months ahead. Surely we would strengthen in the transfer window,and that excited us too. Just playing games again would be nice after a December ravaged by the snow,in which we played but twice.

We started out with a home banker against Barnsley. The form we were in we surely couldn't fail to win. Well,2-2 was the result in a very frustrating game for Forest fans. Barnsley went two up. In part due to enforced changes. Ryan Bertrands impressive loan period had ended, and Cohen was filling in at left back. On their second goal he was showed up. Hill had put them ahead when he just through the defence, Ex Red Gray had scored the second with a header after a cross from Cohens mentioned error.
Forest made changes and gota break when Gunter was fouled bursting into the area,initially given as a free kick,the resulting penalty was dispatched by McGugan. The second came from Tyson,poking in after a scramble. A great,this match was not,but it was notable for Adebola coming on and changing the match. We were finally seeing what the big man was all about.

The next match was an away win at Ipswich. Lynch came in for Cohen in a no brainer. The goal was an own goal by Delaney.We had almost taken the lead accidentally, when McGoldrick in passing the ball back to Ipswich in a sporting gesture, McGoldrick hit the ball so sweetly that it beat the keeper and came off the bar,enraging Roy Keane,and forcing Billy Davies to apologise. Right at the end Leadbitter got himself sent off for Ipswich in a two footed lunge on Anderson.

And then it was onto the FA Cup away at Preston. To be fair the FA Cup would probably seen as a distraction to both teams, scrapping at either ends of the table. But a good cup run is a good morale booster. We went behind to a Darren Carter gal in the first half, equalised through Paul Anderson early in the second,before a late winner from Chambers put us into the Forth Round, where we drew West Ham, also away.



The next win was a fairly important one in how the season went. In a game I personally missed by going on a Ski holiday I was delighted to be receiving the text updates that I got. Kanu had put Pompey ahead, despite being probably 50 years old. We would remain behind till the 87th minute when Sonko put past his own keeper to bring us level. That would have been a good result considering,but only Tdgay to net in the depths of injury time to give us a vital win. One that really underlined the fact that Forest really didn't know when they were beaten. We were on terrific form and looking a match for anyone in the division.



This strength of belief and strong morale was only merely improved in the following game. Against Derby. Considering we had never won away Pride Park,a run Derby fans loved to remind us of, and the fact these games are always dangerous anyway,made the slender victory all the sweeter. A single goal by ex Ram Robbie Earnshaw was enough to hand us the three points.Add to the equation the hilarious reactions of Robbie Savage when being subbed off, and Moxeys hilarious late red card it was a perfect day for fans of Forest.

Another day another win for Forest in the final league game of January saw us beat Bristol City.It meant we were undefeated in the league for all of January,and in fact December too. The previous defeat being in November against Leicester. Confidence was oozing from the side. We won with yet another Luke Chambers headed goal at set piece, a Chris Cohen delivery. Forest were on the edge of automatic promotion. Games in hand from the winter snap. And were now about to play the Premier League team West Ham in the FA Cup.

We went behind early to Obinna who at first looked offside, though Gunter had actually been playing him on. Adebola would equalise for the Reds before McGoldrick put us ahead with aheader from less than a yard. Right before half time Obinna equalised with a fluke goal. They then won in the second half with a penalty after Lynch committed afoul.

So all in all, a good month, We had held our own against a Premier League team, and gone unbeaten all month and risen way up the league. All in all a wonderful month. We even made a signing. Robbie Findley the American striker signing in time.

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