Great Comeback – Lousy Result

The omens pre match for the game at the New Den were good. Calderwood had opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Wilson at the heart of defence and Tyson playing up front with Holt. Breckin had been dropped as had Commons, in what was an attacking line up from the start.

Forest didn’t disappoint and came out with all guns blazing and had a catalogue of chances that made it sound like one way traffic. It was good to hear on the radio for a change that the Reds were producing raid after raid on the Millwall goal.

Everything seemed to be going well for us until a rash challenge by Perch on the edge of the box gave the Lions a free kick. Up steps that man Neil Harris and he does for Millwall, what he never did for us and scores. 1-0, but Forest kept plugging away and you did feel they would turn things round.

Forest continued with their good play throughout the first half, but were denied at every attempt to draw level. The goal hadn’t dented the confidence, nor did it make the Lions grow in stature.

The second half started with the same lineups for both sides. Forest started well, but it was just over 10 mins in, when Bennett gifted Jay Simpson a pass that he did well with in slotting a shot passed Smith. 2-0 and you were left slightly agasp as to what had gone wrong.

This was beginning to sound worse than the Gillingham game, where we were guilty of missing chances only on a grander scale. Millwall were now playing with more belief and why wouldn’t they? They must have been as surprised at the scoreline as Forest.

Credit to the lads though, they plugged away. Chances were not as plentiful as they were in the first half, but we didn’t let the head drop. Just as you were wondering where a goal would come from up pops Cohen. He was able to connect with a Holt knockdown and slip the ball into the net. This seemed to shake the home side and their fragile confidence showed. With only two mins left on the clock, Tyson tapped in from another Holt header to give Forest a point.

The result will be seen as a great fightback by the manager and a great show of character and spirit. This is true, but fans are left perplexed as to our still dreadful away form. This was two important points dropped whatever way you look at it and we can’t afford many of those. We have to put away our chances and put teams to the sword. Sadly we seem unable to do that. It’s a massive game against Swansea next Tuesday, a game we need to win. They may not be quite as forgiving as Millwall in our search for the three points.