The Juán89 Match Report

Forest v Huddersfield – Summary

Firstly, it has to be said what an excellent performance this was, by everyone in a red shirt. The game started incredibly slowly, and it was at least 20 minutes before any moment of real note in the game.

On thirty-five minutes however, disaster struck with Forest clearly the better side. An uncharacteristic mistake from Kelvin Wilson (deputisinging at right back for the ill Luke Chambers) allowed the Huddersfield winger, Kamara to pressure him. Wilson dealt well with this, nodding the ball back to Smith, with Kamara running into the back of Wilson. The referee, however, who was nothing short of atrocious from the first minute, saw this as a reason to give a penalty to Huddersfield, and consequently send off the massively unfortunate Kelvin Wilson. Phil Jevons stepped up to convert the penalty, Sammy Clingan deputising at right back until half time, when Perch was to replace the somewhat ineffective Lennon.

The second half didn’t start in a particularly promising fashion either. Merely ten minutes into it Huddersfield had a gilt-edged chance to seal the points, and would have done but for a stunning one-handed save from Smith from point-blank range.

Enter Chris Cohen. Replacing Grant Holt on 65 minutes, his effect was immediate. Receiving the ball at the edge of the Huddersfield penalty area after good work from the immense Lewis McGugan, Cohen struck the ball, and watched it take a wicked deflection to take it over the keeper for a well-deserved Forest equaliser.

Forest continued to batter Huddersfield from then on, who didn’t really offer much, but things didn’t look promising when Commons had to be taken off because of a slight injury. He was replaced by Davies, who played up front with Agogo. With Huddersfield’s time-wasting tactics and general gamesmanship more apparent than ever, it seemed as though a draw was likely, until Sammy Clingan threaded the ball to Lewis McGugan, watched him spin away from his marker and rifle a cracking shot into the top corner from about 10 yards out, to send the City Ground into raptures.

It would not be fair to omit a vastly improved display from both Grant Holt and Matt Lockwood, who both played very well. For his contribution in both goals and in settling Forest’s midfield whilst still getting us moving forward, my man of the match goes to Lewis McGugan.

A fantastic performance from Forest, and it would be harsh to suggest there was any one of the reds that didn’t play out of their skin. Credit too must go to Calderwood for the timely substitutions made, and as this result makes us up some ground on Swansea who drew, and takes us away from Lucky Leeds who lost, the Calderwood out brigade should have some thinking to do.

Thanks once again to Juán89 for taking the time out to do the report. If you would like to write anything for the site, then contact forest@vitalfootball.co.uk