The cloud. . .

Our next game was at home to Blackpool. They had started the season really well, but after a dip in form, (winning only 1 game in 6) had returned to winning ways. So it wasn't going to be easy. Plus we were going to have to beat what I call one of our bogey teams. I don't bother with stats, so am probably completely wrong on this point, but games that stick in my mind seem to indicate that no matter how well we play, they usually manage to pull off the unlikely. The year they beat us in the playoffs, they wouldn't have got to those playoffs if they hadn't taken three points off us at the CG despite us battering them for 90 mins. 1-0 and even the irritating Holloway admitted they were lucky.

Anyway, I went to this game with a sense of foreboding. And so it came to pass.

I shall not dwell. Abdoun was defending inside our penalty box and decided, in a situation of seemingly little danger, to chest the ball down and do something other than clearing it away from the onrushing Bishop. He did not kill the ball sufficiently, it ran a little loose, Bishop rounded him and set off for goal. Abdoun seemed to impede him and the ref pointed to the spot.

This penalty seemed a correct decision, but was greeted with dismay because minutes earlier Henderson had been similarly impeded at the other end whilst going for goal and nothing was given.

Blackpool missed their spot kick, because Ince's shot was brilliantly saved by Darlow who also saved a follow-up attempt. This did not even things up however, because Abdoun had been dismissed and we were going to have to try to win or at least hold out for an hour with ten men.

After a brilliant disciplined performance, Forest reached added time at 0-0. Soon another cruel blow was to strike us. In one last despairing attack, young Ince lobbed the ball into our penalty area, the ball was nodded on and then, from a clear offside position, headed back to Dobbie who scored with a low shot. The linesman was in a poor position and missed the offside.

Once again we have had a game affected by the officials getting the big decisions wrong.