sh1t_ref_again

Match report from Forest fan Forest started in business like fashion, opening the scoring with a goal from Origi, which from my seat in Block R of the LBC looked to have been bundled over the line by Origi’s arm (VAR proving me wrong!!!), but that was the zenith of our 90-minute performance. What followed was a spirited Bristol city performance, a lack-lustre forest performance, and a Bristol equalizer 5 minutes after our opener. Controversy rages about the Bristol goal. Bandwagon-jumpers blame Matt Turner, but that is a total misrepresentation of the facts. Fact: no outfield player bothered to try and close down any Bristol player allowing Andy King, who all his long career has demonstrated a shooting ability from distance. Fact: Kings powerful shot was well-aimed at the top corner of Turners goal. Fact: Turner flung his tall frame athletically across the goal to finger tip the ball onto the inside of the post. Fact: not a single Forest player reacted to the ball as it flew across the goal-mouth to strike the far post. Fact: Turner valiantly tried to stop the unmarked Knight’s shot from close range – the only Forest player to make any effort to close Knight down, or get a block in. For the rest of the half, Bristol played at pace, with accurate passing, while Forest produced a comedy of errors that Shakespeare would have dismissed as being too farcical to include in a comedy drama. A back-3 formation does require the wing backs ahead of them to put in a lot of effort. Montiel on the right was like a rabbit in the headlights, and failed to make a meaningful interception, or block, or tackle until very late on when he raced back to slide in and prevent Cornick from going through on goal, and in so doing he injured himself and had to be substituted. Montiel for me is a total liability, and needs to be replaced. Toffolo on the left put in a lot more running, but despite his consistent efforts game after game, he was sadly ineffective on the night. As a result of the lack of quality in front of him, Turner was called on several times to make excellent diving saves. Despite the nervousness of the crowd, he also acquitted himself far more confidently with his feet on the many occasions he was called upon to deal with back-passes. Despite the difference in league standings, Bristol looked to be the better team when in possession, but Forest’s quality players did show flashes of what they are capable of, but it was all too infrequent, and too many wrong decisions were made, and too many passes went astray. Both teams created some decent openings, but were equally profligate in front of goal, the most glaring example falling to Nakhi Wells, who will probably not have Felipe on his Christmas Card list after last night, who somehow knitted an Arran sweater out of his legs to miss the ball, and the open goal from about 2 feet from the goal line. Montiel’s withdrawal saw the introduction of 18-year old Academy star, Joe Gardner, who made a crunching tackle immediately he came onto the pitch, and he continued to play a spary cameo throughout extra-time, linking well with Neco Williams. Williams got into good positions in the Bristol penalty area a couple of times in those excruciating extra-time minutes, and from the best he opted to try and blast the ball through the city keeper from a tight angle, rather than cutting back to the unmarked Hudson-Odoi, waving his arms to let Williams know “I’m here, I’m unmarked, and I will score”. So penalties, and hero Turner did his bit, saving City’s 2nd penalty. The forest penalty takers (MGW, Williams, CHO, Niakhate, and Taiwo all performed splendidly, their spot kicks each beating the keeper for Forest to win a thoroughly undeserved place in the 5th Round. It was genuinely heart-warming to see Niakhate, himself a penalty squanderer at AFCON, go over to console the Bristol player who missed. It was also heart-warming to see the normally quiet and calm NES do a lap of honour with his players, waving to the crowd. A word on the crowd: never before have I heard a City Ground home crowd so silent and moribund, while the 3,000 travelling Bristol fans were loud and proud throughout the whole game. Also, the day-trippers around us seemed unable to sit in their seats for more than 5-minutes at a time – up and down they were like a whore’s drawers as they felt the need to go and fetch pies, tuffies, or visit the bogs. Player Ratings: Turner: 8 – easily the Forest MOTM, with a string of excellent saves to keep us in the game;

Some more highlights, this time from Forest

Decent highlights up on BBC now https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/68236299 UK only

Great effort and performance can't believe we have not won with Nakkis chance at the end. Good to get a few players back for the league games

Bit of a joke of so say key moments, hopefully get some more

Have watched the Wells effort lots of times to try and work out what happens, from the best I can tell Nakki totally misses it, goes past his feet and it hits the defenders heel and goes backwards

add to this, it was Bell made the late saving tackle when Forest broke away, without that we may not have got to penalties Also it has been said a lot in the past that Bell is one of the best finishers at the club

Shame sounded we had the much better chances in extra time

Great effort by the lads, no disgrace loosing by a penalty shoot out

Forest keeper has 44% save rate on penalties apparently

running around the room with my shirt over my head, now having to sit back down

Understand need to change players given coming back from injury, but why make 3 changes at once also was change of shape necessary

strange to make 3 changes when we have been dominant so far this half

King

Frustrating no stream as being filmed

With the side we are able to field, looks a struggle tonight

Think he has mentioned us more than Plymouth

Dont disagree and also surprised Roberts has had no game time, did not know if either had played on the left before and an alternative line up

Wonder if he will swap and put either McCrorie or Tanner at LB? as surprised he has not given Roberts any game time

Bit surprised Dire did not get a run out