Well this is new.
I've got so used to writing the same old negative drivel over the past few months, that the concept of actually writing about a victory has somewhat stumped me a little bit.
Let's start at the beginning...WE WON.
It's time to enjoy it as well. It's been such a long time since I can remember travelling home, listening to Radio Nottingham before sitting in front of my tv with my curry and being in a good mood due to the performance I'd seen just a few hours earlier.
It wasn't a great performance. It was a game that screamed relegation battle. Nerves were clear to see all over the pitch and no-one seemed willing to take the game by the scruff of the neck. It most definitely wasn't one for the neutral.
But who cares?! Three huge points. Don't get me wrong, I won't start rambling now about how we're safe and that is a result that will turn our season around, but there's no need to simply cast it to one side. I'm fully aware and I'm sure the team are as well that the fight has simply just begun.
As a team, we were professional, patient and pro-active and grabbed our biggest win of the season.
The icing on the cake was moving out of the relegation zone. I predicted in my last post that we could be out of the relegation zone on Saturday evening so I'm claiming a correct guess on that issue. Admittedly, I didn't envisage Portsmouth's 10 point deduction, although there were murmerings it could happen.
Nobody likes to see administration occur, but I must admit my sympathy with the football club is waning. I've read and heard reports this week that have stated the PFC continued to spend as though they were in the Premier League the last time they were in administration. It's not exactly a surprise, it has happened again then and they've only got themselves to blame. However, I do feel sorry for Michael Appleton and the squad but I fully expect them to get out of trouble. They don't deserve to be a League One club and it will only add to their long list of problems.
Do we dare look up the table? I'd say it's now three teams from six. I wouldn't expect Peterborough on 37 points to be dragged into it. But with a game in hand on Bristol City and only three points behind Millwall, I can't help but feel optimistic that we can successfully chase these two teams and drag them into the mire. Especially with the visit of Doncaster and Millwall to the City Ground in the next couple of weeks, we could really give ourselves a chance of survival by the end of March. It's a massive month.
For those at the Brittania Stadium on Thursday night saw a goal they would be unlikely to forget for a long, long time. For those at the City Ground on Saturday, were also treated to one of those special goals.
Gareth McCleary really has been a revelation this year and it's pivitol we stay up and keep him in the squad as other clubs are beginning to sit up and take notice of him. His goal was simply incredible. To pick up the ball in his own half and run 40- 50 yards with not one player getting close to him was amazing. The finish looks soft but at speed, he has picked his spot and just rolled it into the corner. Cotterill has received his fair amount of stick but he must be applauded for his man management of the winger, he has come on leaps and bounds.
As for Chambers' comments after the game, you won't be surprised to hear I agree with him. Enough pussyfooting around the fans and the media-and this is coming from a sports journalist-speak the truth, tell us what you really think. Luke Chambers did that on Saturday evening. As captain of the football club, he is well within his right to do so and I concurred with everything he said.
To boo them off at half time was a disgrace and to boo the substitute of McCleary made matters even worse. Chambers stated 'we didn't want to win the game, we know we just needed to.'
Credit to the players proffessionalism but fans who don't get behind the lads should stay at home. I can guarantee the teams that survive the drop this year, will be the teams with the fans who become the 12th man. It wasn't that long ago that Billy Davies pleaded with the fans to stop booing? What happened? Results improved and we survived relegation. Coincidence? I think not.
I appreciate you've spent money to come and see the game but it simply wasn't necessary on Saturday and Chambo was well within his rights to say so. I hope it's shocked a lot of you into realising how much you are damaging the club.
In addition to this, I have come across a Forest fan on twitter who goes by the name of @pissingred and he is a dream to follow. Says it how it is on all matters Forest with a huge amount of common sense. It's nice to know there are fans out there with a concept of reality. On the subject of twitter, please feel free to follow @michaelredford1 for more of my views! Shameless plug. Apologies.
Camp- Had very little to do but distributed well and did what he needed to. Solid display. 8/10
Wootton- Not a good game and rightly substituted at half time. Spell on the sidelines needed before he's ready to come back into the side. 4/10
Chambers- Bit clumsy and too eager at times. Defended well though and read the game well. Too many long balls but probably not his fault. 7/10
Higginbotham- My man of the match. Another brilliant display from the Stoke loanee, lead the line well, won everything in the air and was strong in the challenge. A brilliant acquisition. 9/10
Elokobi- Another decent display from the left back. Happy to be on the ball and moved it nicely. Kept things calm and very little danger came from the right flank from Coventry. 8/10
Gunter- Not a right midfielder. Round pegs in square holes. Much much assured when dropped back to his normal position of right back and offered a good attacking threat as well. Still poor in the air. 7/10
Moussi- Same old Mou to be honest. Strong, athletic, fiesty with the odd bit of clumsiness. He's in there to do the dirty stuff and win the ball, let Guedioura do the rest! 7/10
Guedioura- Coventry had done their homework and clamped down on Guedioura from the first moment. Still managed to get on the ball and produced some sublime balls out to the wing with some nice touches in the middle of the park as well. Not afraid to get his kness dirty either. 8/10
Reid- Our prayers have been answered and the midfielder got the nod to start. In 90 minutes, does have a tendency to go missing and doesn't stick to his left wing meaning we rarely had an option out wide. But his experience and ability is vital and his vision for Findley's goal was almost poetic. If he's in the side, we do appear to score goals. Carry on Reidy! 8/10
McCleary- Struggled first half as a 'supporting striker' and looked a bit lost. Moved on to the left wing and he soon started to flourish. His goal was simply stunning. First name on the team sheet. 9/10
Tudgay- Had the odd chance and did want to be on the ball but was struggling to keep the ball when he was up top on his own. Will feel hard done by that he was substituted but think he was still struggling with an illness. 6/10
Findley- Got a lot of stick and pleased to see him answer his critics with a well taken goal. His first touch is appalling and needs drastic work but when he has the ball and running at defenders, he's a lethan weapon to have in the side. Hopefully the goal will give him some confidence. 7/10
Blackstock- His contribution seems to go unnnoticed at times. Dex ran his heart out for 45 minutes and should be applauded for it. Made a big contribution and Coventry's defence struggled to contain the big man. Just needs a goal. 8/10
Greening - We all had a little groan when number 14 went up on the board but fair play to Greening, he came on and added a lot of fight and passion into the team. Possible double footed challenge that went unnoticed but he was fighting for his place and he has certainly thrown his name into the hat. 7/10
So away to Birmingham on Saturday. A really, really, tough game. But a win can do wonders for confidence and the longer we can stay in the game at St Andrews, the more belief we will have that we can snatch something. All the curses have gone, we've won at home, scored home and away and have kept a clean sheet. It's all positive. It won't be easy but we'll see what happens.
As long as we're not back in the bottom three, I'll be happy. I'm rather enjoying logging on to BBC Sport at the moment.
In other news, I think the sacking of Lee Clark and Martin Allen is a disgrace. Both managers were working towards their pre-season targets and both looked like achieving them. Huddesfield have appointed Simon Grayson and with a good record at that level, I expect Huddesfield to be promoted but I think they would have secured it with Lee Clark in charge. As for Notts, I hope the decision doesn't backfire on them. Unfortunately, I think it will. I don't think the appointment of Keith Curle will add much enthuasism either to the players or fans either.
Managers need to be given a chance and a lot more time. Success doesn't just happen overnight. Club Chairmen and Chief Executives need to have a serious look at their football clubs and what they are realistically expecting from the squad and the money they have available to them.
If Huddesfield and Notts County had done that, I would think Lee Clark and Martin Allen would still be in a job.
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