McGugan Saves The Day: Bristol City 2-3 Forest

Billy Davies prepared us all weeks ago, in saying that nothing will be decided in the Championship promotion race until the final day of the season and with only 2 games to go, it does indeed look as though it’s going to the wire.

Forest cemented their place in the final Playoff position with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Bristol City yesterday, in a game they looked to have sewn up at half time, but they conspired to make hard work of it in the second period, by throwing away a 2 goal lead and giving palpitations to every Forest fan in the process.

On loan striker Kris Boyd put us 1 up after only 4 minutes, after converting yet another perfect delivery from the rejuvenated Lewis McGugan. McGugan then won a penalty for his side just before the break, after being fouled on his way through to goal. Boyd got his 2nd of the game and put us in the driving seat going into half time.

City weren’t in the game in the 1st half and were even booed off at the whistle by the home fans. The game was there for the taking from a Forest perspective, but the lads simply switched off at the break and allowed the home side back into the game right after the restart.

On 49 minutes, Marvin Elliott headed past Lee Camp, then 10 minutes later Jon Stead headed in Jordan Spence’s centre to level. It made for a tense and nervous finish to a game that Forest should have put well beyond the homeside.

Thanks once again to Lewis McGugan, because a well delivered corner, picked out Luke Chambers, who headed home the winner to give the Reds’ (Whites), the lead with almost 20 minutes still to play. It was a nail biting finish to the game, in which the home side thought they had drawn level in the closing stages, but referee East, saw a handball in the box and disallowed the goal. A worrying end to the game, saw McGugan leave the pitch with 10 minutes still to play. It was a suspected calf strain according to the radio, so we now wait with baited breath on news of how serious it is.

The win gives us a 2 point cushion ahead of our nearest rivals Millwall and it puts us in the driving seat with only 2 games to go. There’s a vital game with Scunthorpe at home next Saturday, before what could prove to be a deciding final game away at Selhurst Park on May 7. Hold on tight folks, it could be a bumpy one.