Forest 1-0 Posh

Forest ran out 1-0 winners over basement boys Peterborough and made it 11 consecutive home wins in the process. The game was hardly a classic, but the result will be viewed as more important than the performance.

Billy Davies reinstated Anderson and Blackstock to the starting 11 for this game, as he was forced to reshuffle his pack due to the ineligibility of on loan winger George Boyd. Dele Adebola was moved to the bench, to make way for the returning Blackstock.

Despite the game being a lacklustre affair, the home fans only had to wait 13 minutes for the opening goal and it was a well worked one at that. Forest attacked with pace down the wing and a great cross from Gunter was met by Anderson. He thundered a shot goalwards, but saw it come out to Earnshaw on the edge of the 6 yard box to knock the ball home.

There was worrying news on 20 minutes, when Perch left the field with what appeared to be an ankle problem. Whilst he walked off the pitch unaided and without any noticeable harm, there was clearly something wrong and he was replaced by Luke Chambers. No matter what my thoughts might be on Perch’s usefulness to the side, we can’t afford to lose anymore players to injury at this crucial stage of the season. Fair play to Chambers though, apart from one dodgy backpass in the game, he acquitted himself well.

Both sides were giving the ball away too freely and the tempo at times was almost pedestrian. Majewski was looking lively as usual and eager to make his mark on the game. He hit one delightful slide rule pass into the path of Earnshaw, but his strike was pushed away by the keeper. Fans hoping for a goal fest were to be sadly disappointed, as the half drew to a close with neither side posing much of a threat. Posh had a couple of chances of their own, but were restricted to shots from outside the box, which Camp duely claimed.

Peterborough had their best chance of the game to level the score just after the break, when Gabriel Zakauani’s header forced a great save out of Camp. That was a let off for the Reds’ and for a brief spell it made us raise our game.

Towards the end of the game, Cohen forced a terrific save from the Posh keeper. His 25 yard shot, saw Lewis dive full length and tip the ball onto the post and out for a corner. Inexplicably, the referee Mr. Hill gave a goal kick to the visitors.

Not the best of games admittedly, but the points are all that matters at this stage of the season. We’re still in 3rd spot and looking increasingly more likely to make the Playoffs. If only we can arrest the dreadful away form, there might be a few twists and turns to come.