Southall Triggers Rout!!

After the last few months of misery both on and off the pitch, Nottingham Forest at last gave the type of performance that the much vaunted league one favorites should be capable of. Not to take anything away from Forest but this was just as much a case of Swindon being awful as it was Forest being good.

The result was never in doubt after the third minute as Nicky Southall began his memorable day with a twenty yard drive that left keeper Evans for dead after Julian Bennett’s shot thundered against the bar and rebounded to the Forest winger in space on the edge of the area to put Forest in front.
It became a perfect day for the former Gillingham man as he completed a double hat-trick of sorts with three goals and three assists from corners.

It was from Southall’s corners that Forest put the game to bed within a half hour at the City Ground. First Wes Morgan headed home Southall’s left wing corner on 17 minutes and it was just over ten minutes later when Breckin nodded in at the near post following Southall’s corner from the same side.
Forest looked comfortable all afternoon and kept the ball well as the attractive football the fans have been demanding all season returned to the side as they put on a show for the 22,000 strong crowd. Forest enjoyed the Lion’s share of possession and finished the half strongly as Swindon looked beaten and disconsolate, Tyson and Holt worked hard for the side all day without any personal reward and the midfield with Commons the tormentor in chief looked in control and tidy launching attack after attack.

The second half began as the first ended with Forest pouring forward and it took only six minutes for Southall to nod home from Grant Holt’s cross. His downward header bouncing up into the roof off the net as the Swindon defenders stood and watched. His Hat-Trick was complete only minutes later as he slotted home following an excellent cut back from the energetic Tyson.

Forest continued to run riot and it was only moments later that Southall’s corner from the left flank again found Morgan unmarked to head into an empty net, Forest and their fans were ecstatic and as the score line rose The Reds visibly grew in confidence, beginning to look like they have broken free of the shackles many believe Gary Megson instilled upon the side.

Swindon looked in disarray for the entire match and as the score increased so did the bickering between the away teams players, things went from bad to worse for the league one strugglers when Ifil was dismissed on 65 minutes for picking up his second yellow of the game.

Forest were unable to capitalise against the ten men until the 90th minute when Jack Lester bundled the ball home again following good work form Grant Holt.
It was Forests seventh goal and finished off an excellent performance spoilt only momentarily as Benjamin sneaked in behind the Forest rearguard on 76 minutes to head home a free kick and draw ironic celebrations from the 1, 000 or so who travelled up from Wiltshire.

Southall will deservedly take the plaudits on a day everything came off for him but a lot of the good work and pressure came from Forest front two who worked selflessly all game without troubling the scoreboard. Tyson’s pace was again a constant threat and Holt’s excellent support and hold up play created goals for Lester and Southall.
The Midfield were in command all day and were able to provide both a shield for the back four and a platform from which they launched numerous raids on the Swindon goal.
Gary Holt returned to centre midfield to replace the suspended Sammy Clingan and he proved the perfect foil to allow Southall and Commons the room to inflict the damage on Iffy Onuora’s side.
The back four will have been happy with their efforts despite allowing Benjamin the space to deny them a clean sheet for the second week in a row. Breckin and Morgan were comfortable all afternoon allowing Curtis and Bennett the chance to support their wingers.
Bastians, Lester and Thompson all appeared in the second half as Forest took their foot off the gas a little just showing that when everyone is fit Forest no doubt have some depth in their ranks.

Next up for Forest is a trip to Swindon’s local rivals Bristol City in a game that will undeniably be a stiffer test than Saturdays at The City Ground. City have been starting to find their feet in recent weeks and if the Forest players want the fans to believe with them that they are capable of forcing their way into the play off battle they must use this increased confidence and bring all three points home from Bristol.

After two wins, nine goals and no small amount of determination Forest are starting to recover from their Megson hangover and if the fans and players can continue to pull together Forest can at the very least put a run together that will set them up nicely for a run at automatic promotion next season.