Wednesday on Tuesday

Tuesday April 8th, a beautiful Spring evening and the visitors are Sheffield Wednesday FC. The visitors are in mid table, but have won three of their last six games including a good win against QPR, so will be no pushovers, especially when you think of our present poor form. We won by a single goal to nil at Hillsborough in early December so are looking for a rare 'double' over our opponents tonight.

In contrast to recent events, nothing of real interest occurred between our loss to Millwall and tonight, so I suppose that's a blessing. Gary Brazil made four changes to Saturday's side. Lascelles had completed his matches out due to suspension and came straight back in to replace Wilson who finished the game on Saturday. I hope that Wilson's absence is only because it is early in his return to action after a long injury lay-off and he is being saved for QPR on Saturday. Lansbury who finished the game against Millwall as sub started in midfield and Derbyshire and Henderson were selected in attack. No matter how much our "strikers" are rotated, they just cannot score goals. Being given a run of games doesn't seem to work so perhaps Mr Brazil is hoping to strike (!) lucky and hit on a pairing that will do the job.

At first, the game wasn't too bad from a Forest point of view except we again got a picky and fussy referee. Three of our players were booked in the first half an hour. Not that there could be too many complaints about the actual bookings, but again it was the other actions of the ref that must have played a part in the frustrations of the players. Plus the Owls were a trifle robust in their tackles and general approach to the game, but no cards were issued to their players. Again the officials were becoming the centre of attention and again the crowd responded by giving them the bird. Then Wednesday opened the scoring with just such a poor decision. Collins slid in to tackle one of their forwards on the right side of the penalty area in front of the Bridgford End after just a quarter of an hour during which we had been giving as good as we got. The linesman was literally yards from the incident and must have seen it clearly, but made no move when the referee blew for a penalty. Replays clearly showed the tackle to be fair with Collins winning the ball.

The first half continued with both sides having a share of the ball, but just before half time Forest scored with a fine goal by Jamie Mackie. Paterson diddled the Wednesday defender down by the left corner flag and put in a superb cross. Mackie made a late run and leapt to head the ball into the net from the edge of the six yard box. Of course, we wouldn't be Nottingham Forest without managing to shoot ourselves in the foot and moments later, during first half stoppage time, Millwall scored again. From a corner, Darlow appeared to have the ball covered at the far post, but a bundle of players converged and the ball went like a bullet into the net. Darlow immediately started protesting to the lino and ref, but his appeals fell on deaf ears. I cannot determine why he was complaining, despite looking at the video replays several times, so I suppose you can't blame the officials for that one. But I did see one of the Wednesday players giving Darlow a consolatory pat on the back as the whistle blew for half time so I think perhaps they did get away with one.

2-1 down at half time and worse, much worse, was to follow. Forest were unchanged at the start of the second half and soon got onto the front foot, working a number of openings without any result, unfortunately. However, Wednesday made their first shot of the second half count. They won a corner and followed a training ground drill by passing the ball to an unmarked player on the edge of the penalty area. Mattock took careful aim and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of Darlow's net. Killer blow, 3-1 down to the team near the bottom of the league and, in all honesty, we really hadn't looked as if we had another goal in the locker, let alone two or more.But, in football as in life, you never know what's around the corner. The forgotten Tudgay came on for Henderson, who frankly was having a nightmare. Hendo looked very useful at the start of the season, but lately his touch has gone, he couldn't trap a bag of cement and his sole idea appears to be to lay out any opposition player who comes near him. For a big bloke who should be able to hold the ball up and trouble defences, he just seems content to try to flick the ball on to no one and wrestle with his marker.

It was an inspired substitution. Mackie won the ball out by the right hand corner flag, moved inside and delicately chipped the ball to the back post for Tudgay to rise and nod the ball firmly into the net. Game on! Tudgay's first goal of the season in his first appearance of the season (he's been away on loan).  Three minutes later and we were back in the dumps. Collins, booked 20 minutes earlier, lunged for the ball out by the left touch line and instead took the player. Second yellow and off. Surprisingly, this seemed to inspire the Reds and the last 10 minutes was full of enterprise and endeavour. Finally with just three minutes remaining we won a free kick on the edge of the Millwall area. There were no recognised free kick specialists remaining on the pitch so Paterson elected, or was selected, to take it. I had thought Fox was good at taking free kicks and he lined up with Paterson, but it was at an awkward angle for the left footer so he left it to the youngster.  And, glory be, Pato smashed it into the back of the Millwall net with their goalie rooted to the spot. Jamie Paterson is turning out to be an inspired signing and a wonderful young player, who actually looks as if he should be getting ready for his GCSEs rather than playing Championship football.

Final whistle went shortly after to a great roar from the Forest faithful. It might only be a draw, but after the dross of recent games and our long winless run, any sort of result is cheered to the echo. A rare shaft of fighting spirit broke through the gloom of the season end, are we going to see a shock win at QPR on Saturday?