Missed Chances Cost Forest Again

Nottingham Forest played some decent football and dominated for long periods of play, but once again the inability to convert chances into goals cost them at least a share of the points, in this game against a resurgent Portsmouth.

Billy Davies stuck with the same side that fought so impressively in the 2-0 win over Ipswich the previous week and in fairness to the lads, it sounded as though they put in a more deserving performance than the 2-1 scoreline suggests. After falling behind to a Ibrahima Sonko header in the 17th minute, the Reds’ took the game to their hosts and pulled a goal back through a rather tasty Paul Anderson diving header on 27 minutes. Forest ended the half on top and may have felt unlucky not to have been ahead at the break.

The 2nd half saw Pompey dominate the early stages and they were rewarded when our former academy player Liam Lawrence put them in front with a shot from inside the box, that he smashed passed a helpless Camp in the Forest goal. Forest became a little more adventurous after going behind and gave the home side a few scares. Davies threw caution to the wind and sent on Earnshaw and the battering ram, Dele Adebola. Earnshaw came close to restoring parity in the latter stages, but his effort hit the heel of a defender and Forest were left licking their wounds and left with nothing, only to suffer their 3rd defeat of the season.

Looking on the positive side of things, we’re still only 3 points off the Playoff places and we are playing reasonably well. There’s not much wrong that a couple of fresh faces wouldn’t sort out. But that’s where the problems start, because they are no nearer arriving, than they were this time last year. If we can only convert a few more of the clear cut chances that are coming our way, then we can fulfill the potential we have in the side. The result is a disappointment, but once again credit must be given too another fine turnout from the fans. 2,300 Trickies made the long trip South for this game and got little reward for their efforts. Fair play to those that made the trip, as usual you deserved more.