Forest Pick Off Cherries

Forest put in one of their best performances of the season to see off Bournemouth in a 3-0 win at the City Ground. It’s just a pity that Bristol City spoilt the party, with a 3-1 win at Carlisle, albeit resigning Forest to the playoffs. As ever though, Calderwood will take the positives from this game and try and build some momentum for the remaining fixtures.

Bournemouth played nothing like a side with the threat of relegation looming. They could have been forgiven for playing for a draw, which they would have seen as a decent result beforehand. They attacked from the off and forced a great save from Smith with an early effort from McGoldrick. The game was both entertaining and enthralling. Forest were passing the ball neatly and the beach boys were looking to get forward at every opportunity.

The first goal came from some well worked Forest play. Perch sent a pinpoint pass out wide to Commons, who from fully 30 yards took control of the ball and let rip with an absolute thunderbolt to put the Reds one up. Bournemouth were down to ten men after Lester was tackled from behind by Neil Young. The Cherries may well feel harshly treated for an offence that at worst looked to have been worthy of a booking.

McGoldrick was proving to be the proverbial pain in the arse and ensured the Cherries were not going to lie down. He showed why the South coast club were so eager to extend his loan from Southampton, when he forced another great save from Smith, this time making the keeper dive low and to his right. Forest went off at half time to deserved applause from the crowd.

The second half started and continued in the same entertaining fashion as the first. Lester and Holt were combining well up front and McGugan and Prutton were providing a useful and penetrative link between defence and attack. The Reds should have had a second from a great Lester strike from nearly 20 yards, that curled and came back off the post. Shortly after Commons picked up a John Curtis pass and hit another brilliant shot, once again from 30 yards, that rattled the crossbar and rebounded into the net. Happy days and Brizzle were losing at Carlisle.

Forest were now on fire and had further efforts from Holt and Lester that just missed the target. This was turning into a vintage Forest performance and to a man (for once) justified their pre season billing as promotion candidates. The third goal came from a Commons cross that was met by Prutton. His header looked to have been saved by keeper Stewart, but the ball seemed to bounce off his chest and into the net. Bastians replaced the once again impressive McGugan and could have got on the score sheet with a looping shot that went just over the bar with almost his first touch.

The Bristol City result still leaves the Reds with a mathematical chance of automatic, but let’s face facts, it’s going to be the playoffs. On the bright side though, if Forest can carry this sort of performance into the remaining games then it bodes well. This was a good display from the lads and an entertaining game made possible by an eager and enterprising Bournemouth. Both sides can and will justifiably take positives from this game. The future looks a bit rosier tonight.

Forest: Smith, Curtis, Chambers, Breckin, Wright, Perch, McGugan (Bastians 80), Prutton, Commons, Grant Holt (Gary Holt 87), Lester.
Subs Not Used: Pedersen, Bennett, Power.

Goals: Commons 23, 54, Prutton 66.

Bournemouth: Stewart, Young, Purches, McGoldrick, Fletcher (Broadhurst 46), Hayter, Cummings, Gowling, Vokes, Wilson, Summerfield (Cooper 28).
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Hollands, Pitman.

Sent Off: Young (41).