Match Report: Keep Ball 2 Can't Keep Ball 0

[Olé]

City's much improved form since Xmas was nowhere to be seen away at playoff chasing Forest as an anonymous performance and a TWELFTH consecutive 2+ goal surrender at an away ground - the last eleven of which have netted just two points - made for easily forgettable fare at a sun bathed City ground.

Steve Cooper's passing football should not have been a surprise but the last thing you'll want to do for a side like that is give the ball away and City did it repeatedly. Bar a brief spell of pressure at the midway point of the first half with a high press, the visitors never threatened and were easily beaten by wave after wave of attack down the channels.

The writing was on the wall after just three minutes, not for the last time in a very long afternoon City were hustled off the ball in a one sided midfield and Forest sent Kienan Davis clear down the left channel who then cut it back for Spence to force Bentley to tip over with a curling shot at the edge of the box.

Minutes later the City captain would tip over again from Garner's right wing free kick as a header on allowed Cook to apply a finish at the far post from close range, a miraculous save forcing it over the bar. The visitors then actually enjoyed a spell of pressure as they pressed high but DaSilva squandered play.

Before half hour Davis got in behind again on the left channel and squared to the edge of the box for Johnson to steer wide right. It was yet another warning that City would not heed. In response Semenyo was able to skip past players and force a corner from which DaSilva wasted the second phase in the box.

City were in the game and when Semenyo - yet again far too often penalised rather than protected - was awarded a rare free kick, a left wing Alex Scott cross found Weimann in behind but his header was glanced straight into the keepers hands. It would be our only shot on target and the last time we threatened.

On 37 an innocuous break down the right saw Johnson simply keep on running when faced by Cam Pring standing off and so he carried on into box and fired past Bentley at his near post. Arguably the easiest of saves on offer for the overworked City keeper and yet the only one which he didn't make.

Before half time it could have been two as a right wing corner was headed on and Davis forced yet another point blank reaction save by Bentley to tip away. City needed to get a reaction and at half time Pring was hauled off for Cundy with profligate DaSilva moved over to his more natural left flank position.

But that change required Scott, possibly the only player who showed any quality for City, to move to right wing back - and that, sadly, was that for the visitors as a threat. The away side could not get out of their own half and even if they did Forest quickly pressed to force Williams and DaSilva out of possession.

Within ten minutes or half time it was two as Lowe beat Massengo too easily to get to the byline and cut it back to the edge of the box where multiple City players simply watched as Garner, free of any challenge, curled a low driven shot into the bottom corner. Right in front of away fans a comfortable 2-0 lead.

City already appeared to be well beaten but  Wells replaced Martin and then James came in for the careless Massengo - but despite a few bright touches from Wells, the visitors were largely non existent. With quarter of an hour left Williams slipped and Zinckernagel went clean through but Bentley blocked 1 on 1.

City went down to ten men late on as Kalas sustained an injury at the back - in a game referee Darren Bond had been consistently fussy in, despite only penalising Semenyo and other strikers yet ignoring fouls against them. At the death Wells won a free kick but from Scott's centre Weimann volleyed well over.

Despite stiff competition this was easily the worst half of football from Nigel Pearson's men this season - watching ponderously at every loose ball and never able to generate any threat. At a capacity City Ground and with a decent away following, it became the ELEVENTH consecutive travels without a win.

 

Bentley 6

Klose 6

Kalas 5

DaSilva 4

Pring 4

Williams 4

Massengo 5

Scott 7

Weimann 6

Martin 5

Semenyo 6

 

Cundy 7

James 5 

Wells 6

[The Original OTIB]

Massengo not 5. He was terrible today. Other than that, no real argument.

[sglosbcfc]

Very disappointing, we never posed any sort of threat to them at all. Bentley was MOM for me, without his saves it could have been 4 or 5.

Pearson must be backed in the summer, we need 3 or 4 new additions. 

[And Its Smith]

I seem to remember a lot of snobbish reactions to the suggestion of signing Davis.  Not good enough for us was some of the comments. Wouldn’t mind him here. Real handful and brings others into the game 

[italian dave]

1 minute ago, Tafkarmlf said:

SwapBents and Scott and yeah, agreed 

Has Scott ever played in goal? 

[italian dave]

3 minutes ago, Tafkarmlf said:

Scores...  

yeah, I know, just being facetious, sorry! Bad joke. Just back from Notts and it’s been a long and depressing day! 

[Mr Chappers]

Cheers Rob, the beer was a lot better than City today. 

[Davefevs]

4 hours ago, Olé said:

City's much improved form since Xmas was nowhere to be seen away at playoff chasing Forest as an anonymous performance and a TWELFTH consecutive 2+ goal surrender at an away ground - the last eleven of which have netted just two points - made for easily forgettable fare at a sun bathed City ground.

Steve Cooper's passing football should not have been a surprise but the last thing you'll want to do for a side like that is give the ball away and City did it repeatedly. Bar a brief spell of pressure at the midway point of the first half with a high press, the visitors never threatened and were easily beaten by wave after wave of attack down the channels.

The writing was on the wall after just three minutes, not for the last time in a very long afternoon City were hustled off the ball in a one sided midfield and Forest sent Kienan Davis clear down the left channel who then cut it back for Spence to force Bentley to tip over with a curling shot at the edge of the box.

Minutes later the City captain would tip over again from Garner's right wing free kick as a header on allowed Cook to apply a finish at the far post from close range, a miraculous save forcing it over the bar. The visitors then actually enjoyed a spell of pressure as they pressed high but DaSilva squandered play.

Before half hour Davis got in behind again on the left channel and squared to the edge of the box for Johnson to steer wide right. It was yet another warning that City would not heed. In response Semenyo was able to skip past players and force a corner from which DaSilva wasted the second phase in the box.

City were in the game and when Semenyo - yet again far too often penalised rather than protected - was awarded a rare free kick, a left wing Alex Scott cross found Weimann in behind but his header was glanced straight into the keepers hands. It would be our only shot on target and the last time we threatened.

On 37 an innocuous break down the right saw Johnson simply keep on running when faced by Cam Pring standing off and so he carried on into box and fired past Bentley at his near post. Arguably the easiest of saves on offer for the overworked City keeper and yet the only one which he didn't make.

Before half time it could have been two as a right wing corner was headed on and Davis forced yet another point blank reaction save by Bentley to tip away. City needed to get a reaction and at half time Pring was hauled off for Cundy with profligate DaSilva moved over to his more natural left flank position.

But that change required Scott, possibly the only player who showed any quality for City, to move to right wing back - and that, sadly, was that for the visitors as a threat. The away side could not get out of their own half and even if they did Forest quickly pressed to force Williams and DaSilva out of possession.

Within ten minutes or half time it was two as Lowe beat Massengo too easily to get to the byline and cut it back to the edge of the box where multiple City players simply watched as Garner, free of any challenge, curled a low driven shot into the bottom corner. Right in front of away fans a comfortable 2-0 lead.

City already appeared to be well beaten but  Wells replaced Martin and then James came in for the careless Massengo - but despite a few bright touches from Wells, the visitors were largely non existent. With quarter of an hour left Williams slipped and Zinckernagel went clean through but Bentley blocked 1 on 1.

City went down to ten men late on as Kalas sustained an injury at the back - in a game referee Darren Bond had been consistently fussy in, despite only penalising Semenyo and other strikers yet ignoring fouls against them. At the death Wells won a free kick but from Scott's centre Weimann volleyed well over.

Despite stiff competition this was easily the worst half of football from Nigel Pearson's men this season - watching ponderously at every loose ball and never able to generate any threat. At a capacity City Ground and with a decent away following, it became the ELEVENTH consecutive travels without a win.

 

Bentley 6

Klose 6

Kalas 5

DaSilva 4

Pring 4

Williams 4

Massengo 5

Scott 7

Weimann 6

Martin 5

Semenyo 6

 

Cundy 7

James 5 

Wells 6

Rob, ratings from me:

Bentley 7

Dasilva 4

Kalas 5

Klose 7

Pring 4

Williams 5

Massengo 5

Scott 6

Weimann 5

Martin 4

Semenyo 5

————

Cundy 6

James 5

Wells 6

 

[Colemanballs]

57 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Rob, ratings from me:

Bentley 7

Dasilva 4

Kalas 5

Klose 7

Pring 4

Williams 5

Massengo 5

Scott 6

Weimann 5

Martin 4

Semenyo 5

————

Cundy 6

James 5

Wells 6

 

kalas and Massengo both a 4 for me. Otherwise this. Dasilva and Pring both poor, but they were up against some proper quality.

[maxjak]

City constantly letting down their loyal away following.........with bland monotonous football, quite often lacking in organisation, effort and pride?  Maybe one day they will wake up and realise they owe an awful lot of fans a performance or three?...........But i'm not holding my breath.