Donny at home

This was viewed as a good chance to win a game, something which has evaded us for 7 games stretching back to a fine win at Huddersfield in early February, and a first home win since February 2!! Doncaster Rovers have had mixed fortunes recently and are still hovering dangerously just above the drop zone. But they have won their last two games and are something of a Forest bogey team.

For this game Billy made two changes to the team that drew with Middlesbrough. Abdoun and Mackie miss out with Halford coming in to right full back (Jara moves to midfield) and Andy Reid comes in to make his first start since his hernia operation. At the moment, we have so many injuries that it is just a question of shuffling the pack every week. I think the best idea would be to play a settled team and try to build up a bit of understanding amongst the players that remain. But what do I know. I would rather have the trickery of Abdoun and Paterson on the wings with the target of Henderson in the middle plus the scampering Cox to feed off any knock downs, the attacking midfield of Reid, defensive midfield of Jara plus the back four of Halford, Collins, Lascelles and Fox with Darlow in goal. Round pegs in round holes. Jonathan Greening is useful, but so slow and not one pass goes forward. The inclusion of Derbyshire just defeats me, apart one one 'worldy' against Leeds his input this season has been zero.

The team at the moment is ponderous, no pace at all, the main weapon of attack is a punt down the middle for whoever is there to knock down to....who? No one is ever supporting the tall striker selected. Why do the full backs pull off to the wings? They stand there unmarked whilst the midfielders ignore them and run around in circles and push the ball to a marked striker.  Why do we not have any midfielders running in to the attack like, say, Henri Lansbury? Why do the strikers not attack the front post or go to the back post, can they not see each other, because how many times do we see the ball sail harmlessly over the attackers bunched on the edge of the 18 yard box?

This was a "Kids for a Quid" match and a very healthy crowd, considering the form the team are in, gathered to view proceedings.The game started with the Tricky Trees on the attack. The first half was spent mostly like that. In one attack Majewski fired in a shot which was only partially saved by the keeper. It came out to Cox whose shot was blocked and cleared by a defender. Halford then cleverly got past the last defender but his shot was a poor one, bobbling back to the keeper. Then Paterson was fouled on the very top left edge of the area. Forest players demonstrated to the ref the position of the offence by pointing to the marks on the turf. Unmoved the ref awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. He had made a mistake and he wasn't going to admit it. Another penalty could have been awarded just before half time. Collins, up for a corner and with the ref only yards away and with a perfectly clear view, was unceremoniously hauled down by his marker. Ref unmoved again.

0-0 at half time and a disappointed home crowd. Sadly it didn't improve in the second half. Donny started to believe it was their night and they might snatch all three points. The half looked much more even. Reid was substituted after 60 minutes in what looked like an attempt to keep him fresh for the Derby game, but it transpired later that he has a hamstring problem now which will keep him out for three weeks! Can it get worse? Well, yes, but we'll leave that for the report on the Derby game.

This game ended with a couple of efforts by Forest which on another day might have produced a goal, the best of these chances falling to Majewski who sent in a piledriver which the goalie could only just fend off with one hand.

Thus ended another disappointing match. I feel for the players, there are no leaders on the pitch and they are playing with a patched-up team to tactics which really don't seem very adventurous. It's getting dangerously near hoofball. I got in the car and made my way home listening to Sports Report which showed that our hold on sixth place in the Championship and last place in the playoff positions is becoming very tenuous to say the least. We need a win at Derby County next week, my first visit to Pride Park or, as we must call it now, the iPro, which is a sports drink apparently.