Are Home Games The Key?

Colin Calderwood says Nottingham Forest must take advantage of their end-of-season run in – which pits them against the nine bottom sides in League One.


With 16 matches to go, Forest have a more straight forward finish to the campaign than their rivals.

Calderwood’s side have nine fixtures left at the City Ground – and play only three teams chasing promotion.

In contrast, Bristol City and Scunthorpe each face six games against other play-off hopefuls. Both still have to play Forest.

While Oldham have four fixtures against teams around them, Yeovil, currently in fifth place, could have the biggest say in the championship race, as half of their 16 remaining games are against teams in the top ten.

Calderwood knows the situation should help Forest force their way back into the Championship.

‘Good home form will give us a fantastic chance, because we have nine games left to play at the City Ground,’ said Calderwood.

‘And, of those nine games, seven are against teams in the bottom half of the table.

‘Is that an indication that the games are going to be easier? Definitely not. But it is an indication that you are playing teams who have been beaten away from home before.

‘Undoubtedly, playing against the bottom nine must give you some sort of advantage.’

Oldham face only four other teams in the promotion fray in Swansea (A), Carlisle (A), Doncaster (H) and Yeovil (H).

As well as playing Forest, leaders Scunthorpe face Swansea (A) Yeovil (H), Tranmere (A), Blackpool (A) and Carlisle (H).

In-form Bristol play Blackpool (A), Doncaster (A), Swansea (H), Yeovil (H) and Carlisle (A), as well as hosting the Reds.

Calderwood says he has not analysed the situation too deeply, but knows his side could be in a good position.

‘I haven’t looked at it in too much detail,’ said Calderwood. ‘But you pick and chose a couple of teams and look at their run-ins and you do see that we have less games against our promotion rivals than some of the others.

‘We have are involved in fewer games where something has to give. That gives you a slight advantage.

‘Other teams will take points off each other. But overall, there is not a team that can afford to shut off.

‘Even Port Vale and Huddersfield will be thinking that, if they can win the next two or three, they will be on the shirt tails of the play-offs.’




Nottingham Evening Post