Barlow’s Merry Men Roll On

Nottingham Forest stretched there post Megson unbeaten run to five matches after a deserved victory over a hard working Doncaster Rovers side.



Frank Barlow continued with the same eleven that had been held by Gillingham at the City Ground a week earlier, the only slight change being Perch was switched into the centre of the midfield and Clingan assigned to the right. Forest were also boosted by the sight of Danny Cullip returning to fitness and featuring on the subs bench.

Forest survived a bit of early pressure from the hosts with both a bit of luck and some good defending, it was a fast start and Forest held firm before beginning to take the game to Rovers. Chances were few and far between in a sc**ppy frenetic first half as both sides battled for control. Forest received good reward for their hard work midway through the first half as Commons raced onto a high ball into the box and as Budtz stayed rooted to his line fired past the keeper to put Forest in front.

There was a further chance for each side in the first half as first the referee allowed Tyson to continue as Rovers played stopped to protest the ball had gone out of play, Tyson drew the keeper and instead of shooting squared to a surprised Grant Holt who wasn?t strong enough under pressure and put the ball embarrassingly wide of the net.
Rovers had a half chance right on half time as Fortune West beat the Forest defence but Pederson was alert to the danger and Forest went in one up.

Forest started the second half brightly and got a second goal following some excellent lead up play, Clingan fed Tyson who spotted Holts run down the left channel and fed him the ball. Holt?s excellent first touch took him round the last man and he fired low towards the near post, Budtz again looked suspect as he failed to get down to the shot that slid just past his body. It was Holt?s first goal for nine games and his second in Forest Red.

Forest continued to look threatening as Holt headed just over and Commons rifled in a thirty yard effort. Doncaster came forward gamely and just couldn?t create and clear cut chances for themselves and as Holt headed just over again for Forest seemed to be heading towards a comfortable two nil win until Clingan bundled over Green in the area and Coppinger buried the penalty despite Pederson?s best efforts.
Forest held on despite a somewhat suspicious five minutes of injury time and despite never looking in complete control will be happy with their performance and the maximum points.

Forest played well without ever really asserting their authority on the game; they certainly seemed to have stopped rolling over away from home as seven points in their last three away games proves. More positives can be taken in fielding a settled side, the players are at last looking they a gaining a familiarity with each other. Tyson and Holt linked well again and could have had more goals on the day. The addition of Bennett to the back four along with Curtis returning to his favourite position has given Morgan and Breckin a more solid base with which to work. With Holt and Perch unshackled to get forward and support Clingan and Commons in the attacking third Forest now look a lot more comfortable in Barlow and MrParlands more offensive set up.

With the play offs seemingly out of reach it was good to see Forest dig in and come out with all three points in a well fought encounter.