Perch: Thrashing Was Coming

Goalscorer James Perch felt Saturday’s comfortable win over Huddersfield Town had been coming for a while – and promised more opponents would suffer before the season is over.



The 21-year-old scored Forest’s fourth as they breezed past the hapless Terriers during a dominant first half, and said the home team should have won by even more.

‘With the strikers we have at this club, we knew it was just a matter of time before we hammered someone,’ he said. ‘It was frustrating to give a late goal away against Blackpool last time we were at home, and we didn’t want to leave ourselves open to that again.

‘In the end it was pretty comfortable for us because of the early goals. We could have scored six or seven if Junior’s header and Grant’s lob had gone in.

‘But those two were brilliant and now we need more of the same against Doncaster tomorrow night.’

Forest fans would have been nervous as the team was announced on Saturday. With Nathan Tyson and a revitalised Jack Lester both suspended, the last thing Colin Calderwood needed was midfielder David Prutton to fail a fitness test on a thigh strain on Friday.

But Perch says the team showed what a strong squad Calderwood now has at his disposal.

‘We sent a message out on Saturday – that we can cope with injuries and suspensions and still come out and play good football and score goals,’ said Perch.

‘We’ve never stopped believing that we can win automatic promotion. We are capable of going on a run now and catching up with Scunthorpe for top spot, starting against Doncaster tomorrow.’

Perch is confident the Reds can still be in the automatic promotion places when Forest make the short trip to Scunthorpe on Saturday to play the runaway leaders.

‘On Saturday’s form we will go there full of confidence,’ he said. ‘And even though we are the away side, we won’t just sit back and let them come at us, hoping to catch them on the break. We will try to start like we did against Hudderfield, and try to establish an early lead.

‘We have nothing to fear at all. They are on a great run, and hopefully that has got to stop at some point. It’s up to us to give them something to worry about.’

Perch also revealed he is now just one goal away from achieving a personal ambition.

‘Before the season I said I wanted to score five this season, and I’ve now got four. It’s pretty rare that I score so that will be a decent return for me,’ said Perch who also scored in home games against Swansea, Milwall, Tranmere.





Nottingham Evening Post