Ok, so we all know the result from last night. We all know we trounced Leeds, that Garath McCleary turned in yet another head turning performance, that Neil Warnock has accepted his team were second best, and that Steve Cotterill does have a sense of humour.
All in all a wonderful night.
But I think what is more necessary to look at is how far this goes towards our survival bid. Not just the points, and the goal difference, but the huge confidence boost this will give, and the message that we are not to be messed with.
After tonight’s results the gap to the drop zone is 6 points. Coventry have taken a hard earned point v Cardiff but remain having to win 2 more games than us. Never mind there is Bristol City is also in between.
But let’s get back to the match. 7 goals. The first time this has ever been done by an away team at Elland Road, the first time we have scored 7 away goals since a game at Hillsborough that I chose to go to Field Mill to watch instead. A long time.
This night will be long remembered. Whatever we touched turned to gold or goals rather. But we did go behind remember, to a penalty given away by Guedioura. Snodgrass netted. Guedioura though more than made up for this with what was a simply incredible strike. Guedioura shot from 35 yards into the top corner. It was like an exocet. Image McGugan's goal versus Cardiff last year, cross it with the range of his free kick against Ipswich, and you’re still not quite getting a goal as good this.
McCleary then started his one man show. His goal was a finish from the corner of the area that looped over Lonergan and put the Reds in front. Considering the general consensus on the forum was that we’d snap anyone’s hands off for a point, this was amazing.
Now I admit I wasn't at the game, I’ve had a poor season getting to away games. I went downstairs to make a cup of tea at this stage. I came back upstairs and the score was 3-3.Thjis was as simply bobbins as this game was. 3-4 minutes out of the picture and you missed a whole host of things.
Firstly Blackstock had put us further ahead, and then Leeds hit straight back through Becchio. And then again with Michael Brown. My heart sank. I felt the worst. We'd bottled this opportunity and no doubt we’d lose. That’s how much of a pessimist this season has made me.
No matter, just moments later McCleary had put us back in front. Reid got in behind them crossed well, as he can do so well, and McCleary was there again to net and put the reds ahead with his second.
McCleary's next goal had a touch of the van Bastens about it, a wonderful volleyed finish. The beauty of this game was that you never had to wait a long time for something to happen for the period of time 52mins to 60mins. 5 goals. Within that a quick fire, that’s good value in anyone’s book.
It all calmed down a little from now on. 5-3 up, which was a beautiful score line as it was, which got better and better. McCleary scoring his fourth goal in time-honoured fashion for him at Elland Road. He was o right wing, cut inside his defender and shot left corner into the goal not quite as good as last seasons, but a wonderful finish nonetheless.
Dexter rounded off the most perfect of days with a good finish low down that squeezed its way in. And great rewards for the newly Antiguan striker to get a hard earned brace. And I am so pleased for him.
There is not much else we can say that can’t be said. Twitter and Facebook were alive with Forest fans in a state of disbelief. We were simply just laughing at the fact that was just so unexpected and wonderful.
Let’s just revel in it.
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