I am not sure there are many of us Forest fans who expected to get anything out of the game versus Birmingham on Saturday, but lo and behold if Dexter Blackstock, scorer of that vital survival goal 3 years against Bristol City weighed in with goals again that could help play a vital part of us staying in this division.
Blackstock's brace were his first goals upon his return from his long term injury lay off, since that day at Cardiff that was a wonderful victory that came with huge costs. Blackstocks strikes also illustrate that the big man might now be back to himself, rather than the few first few weeks of him getting himself back up to speed.
It wasn't even a if this was a smash and grab away win like so many before it, but deserved win, on the back of a strong performance. From everybody. All the more with Higginbotham going off injured and Lynch having to once again come in and fill the void.
Both goals additionally came from renaissance man Garath McCleary, whose form has been instrumental in our improved performances and results. His crosses from the right resulted in both goals for the Reds. G-Mac as I said has been instrumental in recent weeks, and again showed it here.
The first for Blackstock was close range finish after a low cross at the near post. The second was a wonderful piece of control from G-Macs cross, where he killed it mid air and finished well. Not a goal of the season, but nonetheless great technical ability and high standard control. In between Chris Burke scored a good left footed shot for the Blues, which when they scored I will admit I thought the worst and that they would go on and finish us off.
The fact that I thought this, and no doubt many others did speaks volumes about how far we have come in the last few weeks. We had character and determination, and that new drive saw us get the win. The new loanees have given us not only new quality but new belief and confidence. Guedioura has been immense.
Luck was even on our side too; with Faheys drive hitting the bar. This might have gone in a few weeks ago, but like how Guedioura hit the bar against Middlesbrough late on and we lost out this time it was our luck that held.
Make no mistake this is a giant win. More so because of results elsewhere not being ideal, but without us winning it would have been disastrous. Instead it also brings other clubs into the relegation mix. Instead of a couple of weeks ago it looking like it was 3 from 4, now Bristol City and Millwall are not safe yet either.
Huge win Forest. Huge.
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