Brighton - Nottingham Forest

[Ciscokid]

Many thanks for that Z. You've helped soothe my soul which has been troubled since the Everton equaliser! I too was impressed by the show of togetherness last night, I've worried about the loss of team spirit from last season most of all. If it recovers then we have a chance albeit a slim one of staying up.

[Liars Bar]

[quote="zicorice" pid="178873" dateline="1666176514"]
Apologies this got longer than planned.

Left home at 8.30am, got back at 1.45am.

Brilliant day. Being miles away, very few glory hunters about and before commenting on the game itself, the connection between real die hard supporters and the club is still very much alive and kicking. Tremendous atmosphere in the away end getting 100% behind the lads for anything positive they do or try to do. When Jonno blocked the keepers clearance it was as loud as the noise when our delayed pen was awarded Saturday down the road at Wolves.  Anyone who thinks this kind of support doesn't lift the players on the pitch hasn't paid attention.

To the game then: Conversations beforehand were around could we get something with possession predictions ranging from 25% down to somewhat pessimistic single figures! Personally, as a disciple of The Cloughie era I've just been crying out for a clean sheet.

Team selection was interesting and maybe gave a bit too much respect to Solly March, good player though he is, putting a right-footed LB to stop him coming inside failed. Jonno up the middle actually made sense against 2 CBs that would struggle in a foot race against Gary Jones. Once or twice it almost paid off.

1st half was tough, but resolute defending, dominant goalkeeping, a bit of luck and good shape kept us in it.

2nd half summed up by the clock appearing to go backwards from the 60 - 75 minute mark. But the work rate, commitment and understanding was incredible.

After about 80 minutes I knew we'd get a point. Worrall and Biancone (I think due to injury) was a masterstroke to preserve the clean sheet. Not one person around us was saying throw caution to the wind and go for a goal. Of course we hoped for a sneaky break away goal or better still a Yates header from a set piece (I was fully prepared to drive home cold and wet), but the clean sheet was THE priority.

After the final whistle those reds who could still walk all came over to thank us for our support, not just the obligatory wave and walk off  they stood together in a line and actually applauded US, thanked us. They knew they will need more of the same over the course of the season- we know it too.

Football is not just about skill and scoring  it is equally about passion and togetherness. Earning the right to play is bloody hard in this league and we haven't quite got the "play" bit right yet. We all know it and Cooper knows it too, I hope After last night a few more of our section of hyper critical supporters can begin to see the difficulty of the task and the progress we are slowly making.

Jonno was an absolute warrior last night as were Yates and Cook/McKenna. It may not have been obvious on TV  but Lingard ran his nuts off. Williams' character to perform in the 2nd half as he did after a torrid 1st half shows real character.

Of course we want to play teams off the park as we did last season, but for now, I will take the passion shown last night in the hope the rest will gradually follow. It'd not as if we are playing Coventry or Middlesbrough is it?

I noticed alot of negativity and the old "told you so" sh1t flying about social media last night- especially at HT  even after earning an away point after the game. Give me 3000 "happy clappers" who were at the game last night over 50000 of these "negative Nancy's" any day of the week. If we can be happy after around 9 hours travelling  why can't more recognise the positives after switching off their TV/Computer.

Hopefully we will raise the roof Saturday and get something off the Scousers.

So proud of our club last night.
[/quote
Absolutely spot on, great post mate.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Really great post Zico.
We could hear the Forest fans non stop for the whole 95 minutes.

[Tricky]

Really great post Zico.
We could hear the Forest fans non stop for the whole 95 minutes.

My missus was in the living room with me last night while I watched the match on TV. At one point, she looked up from her book and said "Do that lot ever shut up?" To which I proudly proclaimed, "Those making all of the noise are the Forest boys, not the Brighton fans" to which she replied, "Well of course the Forest fans will be louder, they are at home aren't they?" To which I replied "Nope! We are away at Brighton". "Bloody Hell!, You're lot have some good support then", was her reply. And she knows absolutely zilch about football!!!

[Username]

Just to echo Zico’s post, I left home just before 8 and got in at 3am but it was worth every minute.

For me Aurier was MOTM until he got subbed, I thought he was fantastic.

I should also mention Lingard, he is far from lazy, he ran his socks off and was ready to come off earlier than he did. He’s obviously not influencing games and will be as frustrated as, if not more than, us. It was clear that we wanted to put the ball into the channels and try and turn their centre halves using Johnson’s pace but Cook’s distribution isn’t exactly precise and Johnno still showing his youth the ball was never really close enough to Jesse for him to show what he could do, evidenced by the number of touches he had first half.

Also, how poor were the Brighton fans? The premier league really does create a belief of self entitlement and listening to them on the way back to Falmer station you would think they had won 10-0.

The only downside for me was that Levi Cowill (sp?) didn’t play so the 3,000 trickies could show their appreciation for getting us back where we belong.

Bring on the mickey’s.

[ozzyten10]

Just watched MOTD - hate Gary Lineker- jug eared git

[Paplane]

Been working hard these last few days so havent really had chance to react on here to the game the other night. Despite what a few are saying I found the night hugely encouraging. We had a plan and went out there and delivered that plan. Henderson was busy I accept but thats going to happen in tough away games. We've now tightened up in the last 3 games and are at last looking like an organised unit. No we dont look anything like good enough at the other end of the pitch but at last Cooper has realised that things couldnt have carried on as they were. If he can sort the transitions out and perhaps loosen the shackles a little we might look like a team again and the quality that these new signings apparently have will come through. And Cooper seems to now understand what his best 11 is. He needs to stick with it now and carry on with them.

[Paplane]

And a positive word for Brennan. I thought his move into the middle helped him enormously. He looked full of energy and determination and nothing like the player of the last couple of months. I hope his confidence will be improved and he can now go from strength to strength. Brighton was his best performance of his season for me.

[wassy04]

And a positive word for Brennan. I thought his move into the middle helped him enormously. He looked full of energy and determination and nothing like the player of the last couple of months. I hope his confidence will be improved and he can now go from strength to strength. Brighton was his best performance of his season for me.

Agreed, I've been asking for that for a while, certainly makes more sense that Dennis there. If we're not going to play Taiwo and it's clear Steve doesn't rate him, then Brennan central makes most sense, plus he's probably our best finisher. 

Now we just need the midfield to step up and actually make a few passes consistently!