Our first 'double' of the season?

I had hoped the first double of the season would be the Bolton game, but they held out for a draw, so next up was Blackburn Rovers, who we beat 1-0 at Ewood Park thanks to a late goal from Darius Henderson.

Our team has been decimated by injuries this season, but, thanks to a deeper squad than we have had for some years, we have managed to ride the disruptions pretty well. Most areas of the team have been hit with injuries, but the defence, in particular, has had enforced changes every match. We started the season, after the transfer window shut, with four centre halves. Danny Collins and Kelvin Wilson have been absent for much of the time. Kelvin is still out with his back injury, but no sooner did Collins come back into the squad than Jamaal Lascelles, a fine young player, and Jack Hobbs, undoubtedly the aquisition of the Summer, went out with injuries. Hobbs was forced off at Bolton with a slight hamstring strain and Lascelles did not appear for this game. So we had to field Greg Halford in yet another utility role and Danny Collins still not fully match-fit after only 15 minutes game time in a couple of months. They performed admirably.

Since our captain and inspirational player Chris Cohen got injured and forced out for the rest of the season, full back has also been a bit of a problem. However those positions have been very well filled by Gonzalo Jara on the right and Eric Lichaj on the left just lately. However Eric got a knock during the West Ham game, so Dan Harding took his place for the Bolton game and retained it here. The holding midfield position has been shared around recently and today David Vaughan took over from Guy Moussi. Vaughan, when fit, has been first choice for this position since arriving on loan, but has not been fit since Boxing Day. Simon Cox came in up front to fill the position Halford vacated in order to move back into defence.

The visitors created the first chance of the game as Gestede shot across goal in the first couple of minutes. From then on it was all Forest, playing excellent football. Vaughan had a wicked shot from distance pushed away, as did Lansbury. Then Paterson squared for Cox to knock the ball just past the post and Reid put a free kick right on to Halford's head, but the ball went wide.

Forest then were awarded two penalties in 20 minutes. 15 minutes into the game Hanley chased a long through ball with Lansbury and  pushed him in the back. Lansbury went sprawling and referee Deadman pointed to the spot. Soft? Maybe, but the ref gave it and evened up the one given (by another referee, it must be said)  against Jara earlier in the season for handball when it was ball to hand and not the other way about. Anyway, Lansbury teed the ball up and, as is his wont, gave the ball an almighty whack sending right through Eastwood for our first goal of the afternoon. Then 20 minutes later we got another!! This time a nailed on penalty and this time it was Henley and not Hanley who was the guilty party, scything down young Paterson. Lansbury took it again. Where would he put it this time? No need to worry, Eastwood just dived out of the way as the ball whistled into the net straight down the middle.

Job done? Typical Forest, sadly not. They allowed Marshall, late of the Foxes, to curl one in when a corner was not properly cleared. 2-1 at half time.

Shortly after half time Rovers were awarded a free kick on their left. The ball was swung in towards the back post, headed into the middle of the six yard box and diverted towards goal. It looked a certain goal from my seat, but a tremendous acrobatic save from Darlow clawed the ball away from goal and eventually to safety. 2-1 is a dangerous score and the Reds set about trying to increase their lead. First Jara, up with the attack, caught a clearance perfectly, but the ball fizzed just past the post, then Paterson put a short cross on to Cox's head, but he nodded the ball just past the post as well.

Blackburn continued to fashion chances, but after 72 minutes Paterson wriggled through the opposition penalty area and fired the ball back across the goalie and into the Rovers net. Pato's 5th goal in three games. After this there was the usual shuffle of the pack with both sides sending on their three substitutes and the game started to fizzle out. But Andy Reid had other ideas. In added time, the Blackburn defence retreated in front of him so he use the time and space this presented to score with a fine shot into the top corner.  4-1, perhaps a bit unfair on Blackburn, but in every game sides get chances and, if you are under pressure, you must score from these chances otherwise you are likely to get punished and that is what happened to Blackburn Rovers on this visit to the CG.

So we got our double. Because of our success in the last round of the FA Cup, the game we were due to play at Huddersfield next week has been rescheduled for February 11th. This presents a quandary for me as the away game at Blackpool is on the Saturday before. Such is the cost of travel these days (I go everywhere by car because of the need the visit so many other grounds after our league matches) that it will be cheaper to stay in a hotel for a couple of extra days than to drive home then travel up North again. So I look forward to these two games and seven visits to other grounds.

Meanwhile, there is the visit of Preston North End to the CG on Friday as well as two other home games before this trip. We haven't had much success in the Cup for some years, so all our fans will be hoping Billy puts out a strong team and they perform as well as they have been doing recently.