Opposition Fans Comments

[Joe Baker Legend]

A few sheep snippets prior to KO- They are a little exciting in the sheep Pens Comment.....

 As others have already said, stick with what worked in the 2nd half against Huddersfield.

Marshall
Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Buchanan
Knight, Bird, Shinnie
Waghorn, Kazim, Jozwiak

Max Bird needs to have a good game to keep Krovinovic quiet. However, if he keeps on playing like he did in the last game he'll be taking attacking mids out of his pocket pretty regularly. Knockaert v Buchanan could be an interesting match up too. Expecting Jozwiak to be catching Cyrus out of position a lot. Looking forward to this one!

Just keep a clean sheet. A draw is not bad but I think that we can score in most games now, at least have chances to score. Would be great to see Wayne grinning if we can get the BC Trophy back.

Games have been close for some seasons now. One nil is my prediction.

I will be delighted if we go one nil up but just hope we don't then revert to defensive substitutions and a siege mentality.

We have enough defensive players to allow ourselves to search for a second goal and keep Forest occupied.

I worry about Knockaert who's a pain but am quietly confident we can do the business.

when the game kicks off , Shinnie and King Kazim have been unmuzzled . Forest are going to regret stepping over the border , get into them boys

Rooney really is settling into this management lark isn’t he, calling then Notts Forest
Fergie style mind games already this early in his new career. Notts forest

Maybe he should have put the S at the front rather than the back.

God will celebrate his new contract with us by scoring his first Rams hat-trick in a demolition of the noisy neighbours

I think the fullbacks for forest could be exploited and doubling up our wing backs and wide forwards could roast them. The front 3 when we played them last (waghorn, Lawrence, jozwiak I think) caused them problems and although a lot has changed since then I think we could  do similar again.

Get at them and pin them back, make sure we score first.

Get at Christie , always got a mistake in him

Tonight’s gonna be a tight one. Think 0-0 would be the safe bet, however my gut is saying 1-0 Derby.
 
I think Forest do have the better attacking players so how we manage them will dictate how the match goes.

Biggest game of the season.  Buzzing.  Nervous, but oozing more confidence than usual, rightly or wrongly.
Friday Night!  Live on Sky.  In top form.  The Adrenalin is pumpin'.
This is just screaming out for a nice relaxing soak in the bath.  Loads of bubbles! Can't beat a nice pre-match pamper.

6-0 incoming

Shinnie to smash Lolley into a million pieces please.

Getting the vibe there hasn't be a lot of love ya lolly this season .  He's been a bit pants since his mate took the move to Villa he could have 12 months before.  According to Gumps I know anyway. Has he been starting much lately ?.

Lolley being smashed to pieces would certainly make him better looking!

Always look forward to our games but don't know if it's the fact it's sunny, or Rooney oozed sense and passion in his pre-match interview, or King Colin has signed an extension, but really buzzing for tonight's game. Things are really starting to feel good (takeover aside).  Please, please let it be the right result.

Shinnie to put the angle grinder onto Lolley early doors, yes please.

Please no stupid red cards.
Looking at you waggy. And you Sibley. And you Shinnie

[Joe Baker Legend]

sheep shaggers match comments 1st Half......

Baa, baa, baa......

Macho pose from Psycho on Sky. A couple of shuttlecocks in situ I think ???

The Brian Clough Trophy is coming home tonight.

One thing for certain, we have to score first.

I'm looking forward to seeing Kamil Jozwiak run at the liability that is Cyrus Christie. If he's direct and doesn't try to over-do things, then he could have a successful game tonight.

Just your biannual reminder that this exists.....

watching that Rooney interview on sky for the pre-match and wow seriously why did people not want him here? he's a hard worker and a born winner why would we not want him as the manager

Watching Forest warmup and I'm now more certain than ever that we won't concede tonight

Rooney saying he wanted to start the game with players that had played in a Derby v F*rest match before.

Here we go.

That pitch really is shocking and not helping our play, Waghorn and Jozwiak both have lost control when trying to run with the ball you can see it bobbling up.

Got to concentrate here. Forest will sit deep and wait for a mistake. First goal could be crucial.

We look a bit tense, overhitting / mishitting a few passes.

why does everyone keep kicking the ball out.

Our passing has been terrible

Christie faking injuiry.  No problem

Ribeiro thinks he’s Bamford what a ducking cheat of a dive

How was that a foul???? Conned the ref

Hope Ribeiro is ok. Must be a sniper on the roof.

So the dogs game plan is get a free kick anywhere chuck forward the centre half’s and chuck it in there - limited but percentage based

Jesus Christ feel free to pass forwards lads!!

these are rubbish.

That’s a penalty all day long
Blatant peno, screwed by awful referees yet again!!!!

How has the linesman not seen it and HOW has Knight just missed that!

Oooooh!
The referee conspiracy of not awarding Derby a penalty continues

Dirty!!!!!! Handball!!!!!!!

How have we not scored
Knighty come on!! Absolute sitter there...

Well drilled aren’t they , when teams lose the ball they will break with 3-4 players, when it breaks down, zoom they are back in position

what a surprise, penalty appeal but not given,  marinakas transfers 1 grand

I don’t think it was penalty but I am old school but it was a dreadful miss for the lad

It’s men versus dogs

1-0 to ref, well done matey
Notts scumbags

you can't blame him, he doesn't want his home burning to the ground

Cyrus Christie looks overweight from his days with us.

This is easy, they are dog excrement, we will get 3 tonight....on an even more positive note, the commentator on ESPN+ is the most bias Derby fan ever.

Forest cannot play it out from the back. When we press them in their half we look threatening.
Problem is that Hughton knows that so at the moment it’s us passing it around while they put 11 behind the ball.

Dirty notts beating clarke

Oh ffs

ducks sake. Utterly shocking defending. Pretty much their first attack. Dreadful, dreadful goalkeeping by Marshall as well.

What a soft bloody goal.

I feel sick

Forest are going to sit in and make it very difficult to break them down now. Needed to score that first goal.

Poor defending and a shocking attempt to save it

Holy Joe baalocks

All that possession for nothing.

Awful from Marshall but that's twice in 3 games we have over broke after a corner. Criminal.

The stage is set for a classic 0-1 loss

We’re cursed in this fixture

Outside of the goal, I am really disappointed with all these cheap free kicks Forest are buying.
Lucky scumbags. poo from Derby. Shitty ref
Going to be a long night

Need to keep our composure here.
I'm not having losing by a shed load to this shower.

Roos would have saved it

We seem to have into full on panic after conceding mode

Lost every game this season in which we've conceded first haven't we?

Yup, and Forest have won all 9 that they’ve scored first

Today it all changes

Well that's annoying. We were all over them and they score against the run of play through a goal that, let's be fair, Marshall should have saved.

Come on lads! You're letting your heads drop. These are still here for the taking!

Notts fan at work said our best bet is to let them 1-0 up early and then play through them.

We need a goal before half time.

Just second best on the second ball . Come on lads .... settle .... you can do this

Need to calm down and get our heads back in the game. Gumps looking so much more composed now they've nicked a goal.

Roos on. Wonder what's up with Marshall

Nothing, he is totally faking it.

This is an awful performance.

It’s almost like they’re playing to the state of our pitch that patch in front of the goalkeeper is bad, be nice if we get at least one shot that end second half...

Absolutely awful and everything that could go wrong did

Dreadful passing but should still be winning.

Should have been a comfortable 1-0 to us at half time with a simple goal

Kazim is looking lonely up there...

Derby need to get a grip in the second half. We've been trash since we conceded.

Of all the games for players to make mistakes and for the usual suspects to go hiding.

The occasions got to Knight, Jozwiak is atrocious.

Come on Wayne, get hold of them second half please 

We'll beat these if we actually up the tempo a bit.. They are rubbish.. Come out all guns blazing we'll better them

These are poor and since the goal we’re worse. Take one of the middle 3 off and get sibley on, need to have a go at them because we’re not breaking them down at all

Looks like Bird has put his shinpads on his feet and his boots on his shins, a tad disappointed he hasn't kicked on like some of the other academy lads. Not a great half but Forest offered nothing either, terrible mistake which we're going to pay for unless we can find some creativity in the 2nd half. Unfortunately we've given them something to defend now.

Got to get Bird off. Not getting in space for passes off the cbs, standing behind Krovinovic every time. Then when he does get the ball he is too slow and passes it to the players weaker foot making them have to go backwards. Go 442 bring Gregory on

Genuine question on the handball - where is his arm supposed to go? I don’t see it raised, I actually see it bent and it’s hit the top of his arm still close to his body.

For me it’s a completely natural position and he’s entitled to slide in to block that shot.

So just looking for a genuine response as to why that’s handball?

Played ok for the first 30. Been way off it since. Young lads all having a bit of stage fright, zero quality on the ball. Be nice to see them grow a bit in the second half and make a name for themselves ala Hendrick 10 men.

Perfect away performance from Forest so far, playing like a mature, well drilled side and a lovely couple of slices of luck to boot.

Just shows how bad the quality of this team is, Forest just sat in knowing we haven't got the quality to break them down. Rooney has his work cut out to change this around
Bad bout of shames put his back out, he can put something out the bag.

Felt we didn’t have a clue how to break them down. We miss an incredibly easy chance, they score a fluke, two huge acts feigning injury, no I’m not talking about Marshall, and we lose any hints of composure thereon

I don’t mind losing to forest when they are actually a good side. But we cannot lose to this dross.

One up top against a Chris Hughton side was always a mistake. This game needed 352.

Not happy with James Garner scoring,  hes a real maverick

Ribeiro and Cafu embarrassing for them the way they rolled about at the slightest touch. You'd expect a bit more integrity from a Hughton side. Let's get stuck in 'em and give them something to roll about for.

Don’t let Byrne Mark Worrell on crosses!!!!!

Poor half from us, we don’t look up for the game at all. Very lax in possession, and all too slow in the build up - very Cocu esque with no decent movement at all. And when we have created chances, as per usual we’ve wasted them - that miss by Knight was shocking.

I mean to be fair, Forest haven’t been much better, and we don’t deserve to be losing. If the referee could spot a blatant handball, and if Marshall played like a professional goalkeeper, then things might be different. But we’ve looked absolutely terrible since their goal, and frankly we’ve not looked up for the fight all match, yet again in a match against Forest. Extremely disappointing that we’ve not come out with more fire in our bellies. Rooney needs to get into them at half time, and tell them to get their poo together. Sadly though, I fear with our record that the game is already lost.

Is that the first time a goalkeeper has gone off with embarrassment

Forest doing us so far. Hoping Rooney inspires us and maybe changes things

[Joe Baker Legend]

sheep shaggers 2nd Half comments.....

Crikey they have started time wasting already and they are only coming out the changing room

Refs clearly not bothered about telling them to get a move on

No changes surprises me

We know Christie isn't the best defensively and I don't think Ribeiro is either. Let's get it wide and have a go at them.

Need to go 2 up top at sooner rather then later, hughton to park the bus

Come on Derby please score, it might stop sky blowing off the dirty red dogs.

Only thing they are any good at is diving to the floor and conning the ref!
Why must notts always play so dirty?

This is awful can’t even pass they’ve bottled this

Them controlling the middle of the park like this would have been perfect for Bielik

I'd just bring Sibley on for Knight; Knight's had a shocker so far

Close step it up know lads come on...

Shinnie just got sent to the Station Fish Bar by Knockaert.

Can someone walk over to the stadium and scream that we want Sibbo on?

My god their like circus clowns.

Joz bottling out of challenges

Would love nothing more than CKR to flatten Worrall

Knockaert is an excellent player unfortunately

I like joswiak but I can't understand why we haven't rested him, he clearly needs some time out.

What a dive!! How did the ref not book him there???

I feel like every Derby Forest game is the same as this and has been for a while

Wayne’s seen enough.

Sibley  could make his Mark here

We have only had one shot on target again and that was Shinnie

Sibley will win us this game or get sent off trying.

How many dives can Knockhaert get away with?

Knockhaert is such a cheat

Whilst they are as crap as us it is currently to easy for them

So frustrating this. Forest look absolutely terrible but also look like winning quite comfortably

Forest just look miles better. Really have lost it since our goal. Knockaert is running it. We can’t string anything together. Really poor.

We are complete poo. I give up, I'm sick, duck up those notts bar stewards and just give them a game to remember either way!!

It appears we can only play football against teams that want to play football.

Every Forest player working harder for the ball than we are.

We're getting worse

Poor very poor you would of thought we would of been on the front foot from the off in the 2nd half,all to easy for Forest

Taylor on to 'MOP' up

Forest are poor but we are too negative why are we not using Kazim as a target man instead of passing sideways?

When we're bad, we're very very bad.

This is garbage we couldn’t score tonight if we had another 90 minutes

Absolutely shocking tonight. Maybe trying too hard

Forest the more likely to score again here we’ve no tempo...

Every free kick or corner Worral is targeting our full backs why are we not marking him

Sky team love knockeart.

It's been almost four years since we turned up against Forest. Four years!

We’re a disgrace tonight

Agree, we are going backwards.

Such a shame that the players don't turn up on a night like this.

Forest are going to get another soon if we don't buck our ideas up

I've closed my eyes....dreaming....anyone else remember that right foot wonder goal to beat the notts scum by Marcus Olsson? Inside the area and slots it past the forest keeper! What a lovely game

Imagine your local rivals becoming your bogey team

Some of our players just aren’t putting a shift in at the moment. But we’re still in the game

8 games in a row we’ve failed to beat Forest at this rate. Jeeeez

This is Cocu-ball at its worst.

Im amazed we haven't scored yet with all the positive energy flowing from this thread

Fair play to the forest scum bags, they are much better this year. We just need to hope for survival and to go ahead next year....we'll be in the same division so no worries

Mind bogglingly ducking awful tonight.

We’ve been really disappointing tonight. Poor. Of all the games to not turn up. Knight has had his worst game in a Derby shirt. Which is a shame, as other games he buries his chance and makes an impact on this game. Nothing going forward. Sad

Useless tonight

Tonight's sloppiness has been downright disgraceful. I can deal with being beat by the better team, but half hearted sloppy football I can't. Basic elementary stuff. They need a good kicking after this, no matter what the result.

They don’t deserve a rest tomorrow. They deserve to spend all day making passes

Its embarrassing that notts consider this actually a good game of football

If never booed the team at the end of a game but this performance may change that.

inevitable a Rams player first man booked!

Gumps are paragons of fair play........not!

 Lol. We'll take that.

Get in Kaz

Player of the season right there

God knows we don’t deserve that, but we’ll take it!

How many saves has their keeper made?

Not a single one of these players looks like they’ve passed a football before. Every single one is misplaced.

For those saying Forest have played well, I’ll have what you’re smoking. They’re just as bloody awful, with the exception of Knockaert.

Can't believe that! Ball bounces all wrong and then sits up a peach for Colin Kazim-Richards!

Good job no VAR, officials missed the handball

ref rings  999

Just make sure we hold onto this!

Why is the co commentator near orgasm every time they come near to scoring?

Gregory has to score

Should have scored

Fair result

Take the point onwards and upwards..

Christ we robbed that point.
Phew

Forest 1 CKR 1

I hope Rooney gives them a roasting after that performance.

Wasn’t the best match. Poor performance, missed 2 glorious chances, but overall we were second best for most of that. Knockaert looked a class above. Great equaliser. A point gained considering.

Rubbish game between two rubbish teams that could’ve gone either way, take the point and move on.

Why do play so bad against poor teams?

Got to take that in the end. We probably didn't deserve it, but that was the way Forest always try to play. If they get the first goal, you've got an uphill battle and we gifted them that. Before the goal, we were the better side and if we managed to open the scoring ourselves, I think we'd have won.

These games aren't the same without fans, there was very little passion or desire from either side, it didn't feel like a big game, well not until CKR scored that goal at least.

Take the point as another towards securing our status, it could be important in the long-run. I'm happy enough with the point, less so with how we earnt it.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Count them fortunate we committed another criminal defensive error.

SA.

[zicorice]

sheep shaggers 2nd Half comments.....

Crikey they have started time wasting already and they are only coming out the changing room

Refs clearly not bothered about telling them to get a move on

No changes surprises me

We know Christie isn't the best defensively and I don't think Ribeiro is either. Let's get it wide and have a go at them.

Need to go 2 up top at sooner rather then later, hughton to park the bus

Come on Derby please score, it might stop sky blowing off the dirty red dogs.

Only thing they are any good at is diving to the floor and conning the ref!
Why must notts always play so dirty?

This is awful can’t even pass they’ve bottled this

Them controlling the middle of the park like this would have been perfect for Bielik

I'd just bring Sibley on for Knight; Knight's had a shocker so far

Close step it up know lads come on...

Shinnie just got sent to the Station Fish Bar by Knockaert.

Can someone walk over to the stadium and scream that we want Sibbo on?

My god their like circus clowns.

Joz bottling out of challenges

Would love nothing more than CKR to flatten Worrall

Knockaert is an excellent player unfortunately

I like joswiak but I can't understand why we haven't rested him, he clearly needs some time out.

What a dive!! How did the ref not book him there???

I feel like every Derby Forest game is the same as this and has been for a while

Wayne’s seen enough.

Sibley  could make his Mark here

We have only had one shot on target again and that was Shinnie

Sibley will win us this game or get sent off trying.

How many dives can Knockhaert get away with?

Knockhaert is such a cheat

Whilst they are as crap as us it is currently to easy for them

So frustrating this. Forest look absolutely terrible but also look like winning quite comfortably

Forest just look miles better. Really have lost it since our goal. Knockaert is running it. We can’t string anything together. Really poor.

We are complete poo. I give up, I'm sick, duck up those notts bar stewards and just give them a game to remember either way!!

It appears we can only play football against teams that want to play football.

Every Forest player working harder for the ball than we are.

We're getting worse

Poor very poor you would of thought we would of been on the front foot from the off in the 2nd half,all to easy for Forest

Taylor on to 'MOP' up

Forest are poor but we are too negative why are we not using Kazim as a target man instead of passing sideways?

When we're bad, we're very very bad.

This is garbage we couldn’t score tonight if we had another 90 minutes

Absolutely shocking tonight. Maybe trying too hard

Forest the more likely to score again here we’ve no tempo...

Every free kick or corner Worral is targeting our full backs why are we not marking him

Sky team love knockeart.

It's been almost four years since we turned up against Forest. Four years!

We’re a disgrace tonight

Agree, we are going backwards.

Such a shame that the players don't turn up on a night like this.

Forest are going to get another soon if we don't buck our ideas up

I've closed my eyes....dreaming....anyone else remember that right foot wonder goal to beat the notts scum by Marcus Olsson? Inside the area and slots it past the forest keeper! What a lovely game

Imagine your local rivals becoming your bogey team

Some of our players just aren’t putting a shift in at the moment. But we’re still in the game

8 games in a row we’ve failed to beat Forest at this rate. Jeeeez

This is Cocu-ball at its worst.

Im amazed we haven't scored yet with all the positive energy flowing from this thread

Fair play to the forest scum bags, they are much better this year. We just need to hope for survival and to go ahead next year....we'll be in the same division so no worries

Mind bogglingly ducking awful tonight.

We’ve been really disappointing tonight. Poor. Of all the games to not turn up. Knight has had his worst game in a Derby shirt. Which is a shame, as other games he buries his chance and makes an impact on this game. Nothing going forward. Sad

Useless tonight

Tonight's sloppiness has been downright disgraceful. I can deal with being beat by the better team, but half hearted sloppy football I can't. Basic elementary stuff. They need a good kicking after this, no matter what the result.

They don’t deserve a rest tomorrow. They deserve to spend all day making passes

Its embarrassing that notts consider this actually a good game of football

If never booed the team at the end of a game but this performance may change that.

inevitable a Rams player first man booked!

Gumps are paragons of fair play........not!

 Lol. We'll take that.

Get in Kaz

Player of the season right there

God knows we don’t deserve that, but we’ll take it!

How many saves has their keeper made?

Not a single one of these players looks like they’ve passed a football before. Every single one is misplaced.

For those saying Forest have played well, I’ll have what you’re smoking. They’re just as bloody awful, with the exception of Knockaert.

Can't believe that! Ball bounces all wrong and then sits up a peach for Colin Kazim-Richards!

Good job no VAR, officials missed the handball

ref rings  999

Just make sure we hold onto this!

Why is the co commentator near orgasm every time they come near to scoring?

Gregory has to score

Should have scored

Fair result

Take the point onwards and upwards..

Christ we robbed that point.
Phew

Forest 1 CKR 1

I hope Rooney gives them a roasting after that performance.

Wasn’t the best match. Poor performance, missed 2 glorious chances, but overall we were second best for most of that. Knockaert looked a class above. Great equaliser. A point gained considering.

Rubbish game between two rubbish teams that could’ve gone either way, take the point and move on.

Why do play so bad against poor teams?

Got to take that in the end. We probably didn't deserve it, but that was the way Forest always try to play. If they get the first goal, you've got an uphill battle and we gifted them that. Before the goal, we were the better side and if we managed to open the scoring ourselves, I think we'd have won.

These games aren't the same without fans, there was very little passion or desire from either side, it didn't feel like a big game, well not until CKR scored that goal at least.

Take the point as another towards securing our status, it could be important in the long-run. I'm happy enough with the point, less so with how we earnt it.

Bunch of 6 fingered inbred to$$ers.

[Joe Baker Legend]

Watford Fans Pre Match Comments.....

Preview – Watford vs Nottingham Forest

When: Saturday 6th March 2021

Where: Vicarage Road, Watford


The last preview I wrote for the reverse fixture was one of the first few games for manager Chris Hughton, who has now started to embed his system on to the Forest team.

During the January transfer window he has added two ex-Watford loanees, James Garner and Glenn Murray

Garner in particular getting plenty of plaudits from the Forest faithful with quotes such as ‘Better than Busquets’ and ‘James Garner is a baller’ whatever the hell that means. We of course didn’t really get the chance to see the same James Garner, where he struggled to really impose himself on an already decent midfield of Cleverley, Chalobah and Hughes and those corners *shudder*.

Aside from those two, Forest also brought in Filip Krovinovi* from Benfica on loan. He had spent the first half of the season on loan at West Bromwich Albion before being recalled and shipped off to Nottingham.

In their last match, Forest contrived to lose at home to the scum, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation with Glenn Murray as the main striker, he missed a couple of decent chances with a score-line which flattered the scum somewhat. The other two new signings also played, with Krovinovi* playing as an attacking midfielder. Hughton did switch to a 4-4-2 during the match to try and find a goal but without much success.

Forests form is W2 D2 L2 and they sit 14th in the Championship form table.

Their last win was a 1-0 home win against Blackburn in which a Forest supporting friend of mine dubbed it a “S***housing a way to a win”

Injury news and Forest could welcome back Lewis Grabban, Scott McKenna and Harry Arter, all three are returning to training during the week ahead of Saturday.

Obviously Forest sport two notorious villains in their line-up with diving flake Knockeart and Harry ‘loudmouth’ Arter who brings all Bournemouth’s lovely qualities to the City Ground with him.

On paper at least this should be a home win, especially seeing that we are in decent form having won 4 of the last 5 matches.

I reckon Murray will grab a consolation after a deflection off his zimmerframe.

Prediction: Watford 2-1 Forest

In fairness, Knockaert is probably driven to his villainy by the frustration of no one ever bothering to spell his name correctly, ever.

If Gosling and Clevs are out, Zinc will need to play the Clevs roll and Wilmot will have to step into Gosling's shoes. Which would mean Sema will have to play through his fatigue for now. The only other thing that might possibly work is playing Ngakia in his normal position and trying Kiko alongside Hughes and Wilmot in MF so Zinc could play out wide and give Sema a break.

I hope that "Who would you play instead of Murray" thread doesn't come back to bite us. He is bound to be fired up, and Garner too. Hopefully Murray trips on his Zimmer pre match.

Forest looked destined to fight it out with rivals Derby for a relegation spot, but Houghton has done well and got them moving up the table towards safety. They have some dangerous players, and will look to play a tight game. I doubt they will park the bus, so with Pedro back we have more chance of effectively countering. Obviously Cleverley and potentially Gozzers out will need an almost makeshift midfield, but we have players who can adapt.

Not going to be easy, but with Swansea conning refs and Bentford still a bit iffy, we have a chance to move clear be it only temporary. Unlike last Saturday's game, I hope we take it.

2-0

Jon Moss the ref - he’ll never keep up with Sarr!

Trapped within Andre Gray's soul is the 23 goal striker who got Burnley promoted in 2016. It's trapped in a maximum security, military grade prison, with hundreds of armed guards dedicated to its incarceration.

It will never escape.

But last night Andre was at least able to smuggle a message in and open up a line of communication with the 23 goal striker. At this point, this is more than we could have ever hoped for. Having an expensive and hitherto useless striker on our books has been the biggest issue dogging the campaign, if he is to now gain some confidence and chip in with goals it goes a long way to addressing it.

It means promotion is all but assured now.

Prediction

Watford 16-1 Forest
Gray (12, 24, 26, 29, 32, 38, 42, 45+1, 52, 56, 61, 67, 78, 82, 89, 90+2); Murray (90+3)

This is exactly the type of game we need to be winning for autos:

Watford 0-2 Forest (Murray 90+2 bicycle kick, Garner 90+6 free kick)

Must win game.
WFC 0 (Deeney missed pen) NF 3 (Murray, Garner, Knockaert)

Knockaert to cry to the family stand as his celebration

Knockaert is salivating at the prospect of going down like an injured man made of bread sticks to win a penalty again at the Vic. Almunia double saved it in 2013/14 so he is probably looking at Bachmann like a hungry cat looks at a fish.

No such thing as a hungry cat in this house!
Arthur has just evicted me from the translation chair too,so I'm forced to watch Tsitsi from the floor.
Far too early for the sofa.

Cleverley clearly won't be risked saturday. From what I've seen I just can't see Wilmot in a midfield 3. Maybe one day but he's best when looking forward and attacking the ball, not facing his own goal. I would have him as cover in a 4141 formation but can't see it happening.
I would play Hungbo with Hughes and Zinc in midfield, I've been impressed with Hungbo when he's been on the field, he looks strong and dependable..

So Watford have a chance to go second, could that mean choke time? Three key midfielders out, two harshly treated players out for revenge in the opposition lineup. So a few negative permutations.

But we've got a new midfielder who might be out to impress on his debut. Gray looks like a man who has a point to prove. WTE much improved against Wycombe. Superb home form. So a few positives to throw into the melting pot also.

It's a shame fans can't attend. What a great watch this season would have been for the home faithful. With a record of 13-2-2, very few games have ended without victory, although ironically when fans were allowed back in we only saw 1 win in 3 games. From memory the only other time I remember a great home record like this was way back in 1981-82 where (from memory) our record was 16-2-3.

But we don't have the luxury of slipping up. We have to win. Even thought we've won 5 of the last 6, we still haven't managed to claim second spot. We're only 8 clear of 7th place. So it's still all very tight. The entire top 8 seem to be on a fantastic run of form.

Tough game, considering the issues in midfield, but one we have to win. No margin for error anymore.

Forest have one of the best defences in the league. They won’t come here to attack at all. It will all be about sitting deep, keeping it tight, and hitting us on the counter through Knockaert.

Whoever plays LW is going to be up against a solid RB in Christie.

If Hungbo is up for the challenge, then this might be our best bet with Sema clearly shattered. Also wouldn’t mind Sema starting, but being subbed at HT.

Either way, we need to score first. Forest will be playing for a draw/snatch and grab from a long ball or set piece.

We need to be 2-0 up by HT, make them come out of their half as they chase the game.

If we go a goal down. It will be a long way back.

It’s a must win game if we want to get promoted automatically.

If they're one of the best defences in the league, and they have a very solid right back, I'm not sure the answer to that is to deploy a child who has effectively played no senior football whatsoever up against him

We're going to absolutely smash them.

[Joe Baker Legend]

Watford Fans match comments......

Need to win , important to go 2nd to put the pressure on Brentford and Swansea
no Clevs and no challobah is an issue

I've put a bundle on a Forest win. Knowing Moss was the ref sealed the deal. 16/5. Easy money.

Attacking set up - should create chances.
1-0 Forest then!

Good to see Xisco going for it, why not at home to a poor Forest team? I think the midfield could be all over the place but going forward I think we're going to cause a lot of problems for them.

Surely Forest's first tactic will be kick Will Hughes about a bit?

Could be any old score this.
Watford 5-3 Forest
Murray will score a penalty from a Knockhaert dive.

Loved that half!

We’d get tanked in the Prem with 1 actual CM but as it’s not the Prem it’s lovely to watch that many technical / talented attack minded players together on the pitch.

They’ve broken Knockaert which is hilarious to watch and Andrews has slated him twice (once I’m fairly sure he used the word ‘cheat’).

And Pedro. What a player he is becoming. Out of position and only 19 and taking it all in his stride.

And final comment to Sarr who has smoked a Bong for 45 minutes.

That bong is really poor, need to keep targeting him. Decent first half, comfortable.

It worries me when we go into sleepy cruise mode, we could put these to the sword if we felt like it

Moss Nottinghams best player. Failed to book Bong. Three fouls so far on Sarr. Sema wins a clear corner. Not given. Ball strikes Worrall's hand in an unnatural position. No penalty. Absolute *****.

Need to get a second quickly as possible. Looked comfortable but wasted a couple of good opportunities on the break. Zinckernagel working his socks off as is Sema.

Such a joke! Bong should at least be on a yellow. Penalty was a blatant as you can get and Moss is giving them every FK possible.

Pen all day. Sky who hate us, even said in their commentary that we have a case.

Gray will be hammered for that miss if we don't win!

Zinckernagel is awfully slow. Vast difference between Norway and the Championship

Only saw second half which was dreadful. Apparently first half was much better. Thought Hungbo had a fantastic cameo.

Result 1-0

So we are second having played half a season with no lb, crappy slow attackers and crocked midfielders.

What an insane season!

Nicely summed up.
Forest were sh*t.
Hungbo did well.

Midfield lost some control second half which wasn't too surprising due to the absentees and yellows picked up in the game. But got the win so job done.

Big 3 points, even better to get them when not playing at our best and with key players missing and others playing out of position.

First 30mins or so we played well but ran out of spark after that. No surprise after an intense few weeks of football.

17th clean sheet of the season. Sanchez and Success getting minutes on the pitch. Hungbo looked bright and positive again when he came on.

Well deserved week break now before a big game next Saturday away to Cardiff.

Into the automatic places , and we can sit and watch the other results come in. Happy Saturday

Great first thirty minutes. Average and then after the Gray miss allowed Forest to come into it. But the aim is to win ugly atthis stage of the season.

Gray should have buried his chance, Zinckernagel another opportunity. Sierralta imperious. Pleased wit Sanchez and his control in midfield. Looked assured if a bit off the pace understandably. My highlight was Hungbo. Skinned the right back twice looked calm and won a corner and if Sarr had anticipated better provided a peach of a low cross. Very well done to the young lad. Always pleasing to see someone come in from the reserves and look an asset. Also pleasing to see Success. If he can get focused and fit he is a very useful weapon.

Another clean sheet, three points and a chance to rest and also bring in some of the injured. Chabs fully rested again.

I thought a Hughton side would be better/much harder to break down and genuinely saw this as much harder game and potential banana skin.

They weren’t that hard to break down at all and we could’ve scored a few more if we really wanted.

Second half we made hard work of it but got away with it.

I'll take that. Played some great stuff first half and had to dig in second half. I am not surprised with the midfield having so many out - but let's be honest Hungbo looks awesome! Def. one for the future. Pedro did well in a position that is not really tailored to him. Gray should of scored - come on Andre' we thought you were the main man again! Thankfully did not cost us two points. Defense did it's job, Forest are a very stable side so they were up for it. Soooo glad Murray did not score, was dreading an equalizer from a Knockart cross... who btw is still a play acting little twerp - never liked him, especially since that fake dive in the PO in 2014.

Glad we won - it was vital especially with Brenford's game off. Swansea have to win now (I have jinxed it haven't I)? But we go three clear - let's keep this form up and hopefully when Chabolah comes back in we can give Cardiff a real go. Nice goal from Masina, smart finish. Xisco looked like a pre-school teacher, but the boys won't get extra homework tonight. Credit to Forest, decent side and I do not feel they will slip back into danger. Hughton has them well drilled an organized. Oh, we actually had a poor record against Forest at the Vic before today, so nice to put the Hoodoo to rest as well. Sorry I had to leave the Shout Box, before the game even started lol. We can enjoy our weekend now and boo our promotion rivals. Serrialta again... got to be up for PotS alongside Kiko and Hughes.

Considering we had two wingers playing in central midfield that wasn't too bad at all. I felt it may have got a little to easy around 60 minutes and we naturally dropped down a gear or two which subsequently resulted in us being a sloppy. The team selection was good, admittedly I was not sure about JP playing centrally but then after 15/20 minutes I thought it made absolute sense considering his ability to drop in the holes and his close control. No idea how the Forest wing back didn't get a yellow card Sarr done him every time. I was right about Murray he hardly touched the ball and he was never going to get much from Siarelta. Great to see Hungbo again he looked really impressive looks like he could give Sarr a run for his money in a sprint race and put in a brilliant ball at the end. Zinckernagel was good again I thought he worked really hard defensively and he was good with the ball, I thought Forest struggled to deal.with him in the first half just becaue of the positions he was picking up. The Sanchez lad didn't look too bad done the right things at the right time and we looked a bit more comfortable with him on the pitch.

Onwards and upwards, both Wycombe and Forest have shown us there are no easy games in this division, Cardiff will be a different proposition, but after the run we have had you have to be confident we could go there and get something!

Enjoyable to see Konkedout doing his best to get sent off for not retreating ten yards at a corner!
Once a didlo,always a didlo,eh Arthur?!
Sap of a man.

I have to say I was concerned about Garner being recalled with the lack of options in midfield, but I didn't think he'd be pocketed by our striker and winger lol

No concerns about ending Garner's loan early after today, he's a very average mid table Championship midfielder at the moment.

Thought it was poor how he turned his back on Masina's shot, even though it never got more than 6" above the ground, and it was his deflection that probably put the keeper off.

Why was their keeper angry at the end? Was it the goal where Gray collided with him, meaning he had to try and save without using his hands?

They forgot the main stat:
87 ‘I’m a Man Utd player you know’ hair flicks

I spotted that. How is a footballer that aware of his hair during the hurly-burly of a Championship game?

What gets me is the way players squeal, cry and shout when they are not (at least hardly) tackled. I think I am noticing it more watching at home rather than perched a mile away up in the Rookery. Forest were nothing like as bad as Muff but Knockaert got Pedro booked for not a lot. He was just rolling on the ground and he was barely touched. It is pathetic how refs fall for it. And of coursethe more refs fall for it the more players do it, grrr!

Everyman and his dog, Spot, saying 'Job done, we move on' or the equivalent. I can't really disagree.
A frustrating second half, in which I couldn't see why we didn't put them to the sword, rather than attempt to cruise to a one goal win. Forest didn't park the bus, to my surprise, but then they didn't look anything special; just a lower-half, uninspiring Championship team.
But since then I have looked at their Championship record: In each of their last 12 games they have conceded either 1 or zero goals.
The very epitome, then, of a Chris Hughton team: Neat, tidy, uninspired in attack, very well organized in defence, won't get relegated, won't excite too many people.
So: Job done, we move on.


I was concerned about this one before the match. With our lack of midfield options coming up against a Hughton side With the likes of Murray , Garner and Knockaart I thought a late 1-0 defeat could be on the cards, so I’m delighted with the result.

Not an amazing performance , but given the changes , credit to Xisco and the team for grinding it out . Forest seemed to pose literally zero threat for the first sixty minutes abd we were weirdly comfortable.

We missed Cleverly’s pressing and energy but we also passed it around very nicely at times with that bit of extra composure in the ball.

Although he’s still finding his feet and adjusting to the pace I like Zincy . He’s clearly got an eye for that killer pass which is something we are lacking .

Sanchez looks like a safe pair of hands so far as well , which could add to our options.

Back in the automatics and with a full weeks rest and players back next week we should be well up for Cardiff . We could really do with another win to start consolidating our position .

[ozzyten10]

Another club that struggle to get more than 20,000 when things are going well in the prem yet are lights years ahead due to a few years in the prem. god I hate football!

[Strawberry Avenger]

Another club that struggle to get more than 20,000 when things are going well in the prem yet are lights years ahead due to a few years in the prem. god I hate football!

The footballing gods are cruel.  Watford aren't the only Ford Fiesta footballing club to pass our cosmopolitan sports car.

Forest have been architects of their footballing walk in the desert.  We're still rotting whilst Brentford get a new ground.

And Norwich have been promoted how many times whilst we've been playing at it.  A club of similar size, attendance wise.

When Forest actually stick with a plan with a genuine manager (*Points to Chris) then we'll get there.

SA.

[PsychoStanleyStone]

Another club that struggle to get more than 20,000 when things are going well in the prem yet are lights years ahead due to a few years in the prem. god I hate football!

The footballing gods are cruel.  Watford aren't the only Ford Fiesta footballing club to pass our cosmopolitan sports car.

Forest have been architects of their footballing walk in the desert.  We're still rotting whilst Brentford get a new ground.

And Norwich have been promoted how many times whilst we've been playing at it.  A club of similar size, attendance wise.

When Forest actually stick with a plan with a genuine manager (*Points to Chris) then we'll get there.

SA.

i hope you are right SA but, ok, it's only the weekly 'game plan' but it's pretty much the same plan, week in week out, and well, it's failing and been the same sort of plan really for best part of 3 years

sorry, grumpy i know, but 'planning' is quite a boring thought when focused around tedious parameters, the way things are i actually wish we didn't bother with a plan, i know CH is a meticulous professional but sometimes wish he'd take crack cocaine, crack jokes, and pick the formation and squad out of a hat anything but plans based on boredom, and also if the opposing manager guesses how you are going to set up, is it really a plan?  

A plan is a scheme to outwit the opponent .. when is the last time we did that?  Could argue on that basis there is no plan.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Chris Hughton took a team that were T.K.O'd under Sabri from rock bottom to top of the bottom 8. We were briefly mid-table and talking about whispers of a late play off surge before the reality of this week's results came in.

Forest have been unlucky not be solid mid-table. The last 3 results were mighty close. They weren't battered by Derby, Luton or Watford. They competed. Under a different rainbow, Forest could have beaten derby, drawn and drawn. With 4 extra points things coulda woulda shoulda.

But a meticulous professional is exactly what Forest need right now. And for a pre-season and a 'right' Summer of recruitment with the encumbent allowed to see the season out.

Forest outwitted themselves last Summer. They planned to fail. We're lucky Hughton's managed to bring us this far aided and abetted by his incisive Jan' window.

Try to picture this situation with Aitor who's doing great with Birmingham. Or Sabri. Forest don't do stability. Chris the medium and longer term antidote to get Forest stable and out of this division.

Hughton, with no Summer squad, no pre-season, half as much time had one hell of a task to pick Forest up from rock bottom.

I can't say I liked the last minute draw with Derby. Or the loss to Luton (underserved...) or the T.K.O Watford's forward gave our keeper to go 1-0 up. But we gave Watford a game 2nd half that rattled them. They weren't all that.

If we had someone who could do the onion bag...we'd be further ahead. Something Worrall, Hughton and the Forest dressing room will be patently aware of and feel the sting of those narrow loses that have cost valuable points.

We battered Swansea and lost in the last 5 minutes. Derby because a Forest player could shoe lace the clearance. We lost the Watford game to a T.K.O to our keeper and Knocker should have tracked back. We lost the Luton game because we couldn't take a single chance in the 1st half of decent football. 5-7 points going a begging.

Progress has been made. Performances are better. Forest do compete. But the die is cast for this season. It's fine margins. It was two losses in 15. It's four in 17. Those are decent stats. The defensive stats are better than Brentford. The attacking stats are bottom 4/5?

It was made in the Summer. Where it didn't seem like Forest had a plan at all. (Dartboard not included in this post.).

As for cracking jokes. How do we think Joe Kinnear would do in this relegation battle?

We could do with a win. Back to back. And, strangely, we'd climb quite a few places with that (Millwall? Only 6 ahead of us?) and be all but assured of safety.

SA.

[Tricky]

Chris Hughton took a team that were T.K.O'd under Sabri from rock bottom to top of the bottom 8.  We were briefly mid-table and talking about whispers of a late play off surge before the reality of this week's results came in.

Forest have been unlucky not be solid mid-table.  The last 3 results were mighty close.  They weren't battered by Derby, Luton or Watford.  They competed.  Under a different rainbow, Forest could have beaten derby, drawn and drawn.  With 4 extra points things coulda woulda shoulda.

But a meticulous professional is exactly what Forest need right now.  And for a pre-season and a 'right' Summer of recruitment with the encumbent allowed to see the season out.

Forest outwitted themselves last Summer.  They planned to fail.  We're lucky Hughton's managed to bring us this far aided and abetted by his incisive Jan' window.

Try to picture this situation with Aitor who's doing great with Birmingham.  Or Sabri.  Forest don't do stability.  Chris the medium and longer term antidote to get Forest stable and out of this division.

Hughton, with no Summer squad, no pre-season, half as much time had one hell of a task to pick Forest up from rock bottom.

I can't say I liked the last minute draw with Derby.  Or the loss to Luton (underserved...) or the T.K.O Watford's forward gave our keeper to go 1-0 up.  But we gave Watford a game 2nd half that rattled them.  They weren't all that.

If we had someone who could do the onion bag...we'd be further ahead.  Something Worrall, Hughton and the Forest dressing room will be patently aware of and feel the sting of those narrow loses that have cost valuable points.

We battered Swansea and lost in the last 5 minutes.  Derby because a Forest player could shoe lace the clearance.  We lost the Watford game to a T.K.O to our keeper and Knocker should have tracked back.  We lost the Luton game because we couldn't take a single chance in the 1st half of decent football.  5-7 points going a begging.

Progress has been made.  Performances are better.  Forest do compete.  But the die is cast for this season.  It's fine margins.  It was two losses in 15.  It's four in 17.  Those are decent stats.  The defensive stats are better than Brentford.  The attacking stats are bottom 4/5?

It was made in the Summer.  Where it didn't seem like Forest had a plan at all.  (Dartboard not included in this post.).

As for cracking jokes.  How do we think Joe Kinnear would do in this relegation battle?

We could do with a win.  Back to back.  And, strangely, we'd climb quite a few places with that (Millwall?  Only 6 ahead of us?) and be all but assured of safety.

SA.

I'm sorry to sound like I'm arguing your points mate, as they are kind of valid. However, it doesn't matter how much you sugar coat our last 4 games, we threw away all of the hard work we were doing on the pitch by failing to take the chances we had. Now you could say that luck was against us in those matches. You can't equate for bad luck, so that could be a reasonable argument, I accept that. Goal keepers pulling off worldies, again, theres not a lot that can be done about that either, but there have been plenty more chances besides that have been wasted. Saturday, for example. Not one shot on target (apart from Taylors offside goal). You will never win a game of football if you cannot be on target, thats guaranteed. But we had a number of shots off target. This is the area we need to really up our game. Shots on target can be blocked, saved or go in. Shots off target give the opposition the ball back.

Our midfield need to join in more attacks. A lot of you complain that our full backs crossing is poor. A lot of the time, the crossing is poor because there is nobody in the box to attack the crosses. Where is our striker? Our No.10, Our No.8, the opposite side winger? A poor cross doesn't beat their first man. A decent cross can go anywhere in the box to be either attacked or laid back to a player in a better position. But for some inexplicable reason, we never seem to have enough men up in the box. I watch when opposition sides are attacking us and they have 3, 4 men in the box waiting for the cross to come in, they have players outside of the box, waiting for the second ball. We don't do that anywhere often enough and that is one of the biggest reasons our season has been so poor. 

This bodes the questions. Are our players giving it 100% all of the time? No is the answer to that, with maybe the exception of Worrall and Garner. Knockaert, whilst brilliant on his day, can also be very poor. He is not a team player and wants all of the glory for himself. His throwing himself to the floor and expecting a free kick is embarrassing and also infamous throughout the Championship. Referees are aware of his antics and often don't fall for his diving, sometimes though he does genuinely get fouled, but play is waved on. Instead of losing the ball and then trying to battle to win it back, putting the opponent on the ball under pressure, he is theatrically laying on the floor or waving his arms about at the ref, instead of getting on with his job, allowing the opponent time to look up and play the ball with no pressure on him. That is just one example and something i simply hate!! 

I could write a book on where I see things going wrong but I don't have the time  :D . But I do know that no matter what excuses we try to use to suggest we are there or thereabouts (no we are nowhere near that) and accept that no matter who does what well or not so well, unless we start scoring goals we will never become a force to be reckoned with.