SkyBet EFL Championship
at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest (0) 1
Lewis Grabban 80
Lewis Grabban 80
Reading FC (0) 1
Sam Baldock 82
Sam Baldock 82
Attendance: 26,840 (inc. 808 Reading fans)
Nottingham Forest:
Brice Samba; Matty Cash, Joe Worrall, Michael Dawson (C), Yuri Ribeiro, Ben Watson, Samba Sow (Joao Carvalho 61), Joe Lolley (Albert Adomah 89), Tiago Silva, Sammy Ameobi, Lewis Grabban
Unused subs - Jordan Smith, Carl Jenkinson, Alfa Semedo, Ryan Yates, Chema Rodriguez
Reading:
Rafael Cabral; Chris Gunter, Michael Morrison, Liam Moore (C), Tyler Blackett, John Swift, Michael Olise (Danny Loader 90), Pele, Ovie Ejaria, George Puscas (Sam Baldock 78), Jordan Obita
Unused subs - Sam Walker, Matt Miazga, Andy Rinomhota, Lucas Boye, Charlie Adam
This game was rescheduled to tonight, from Saturday 26th October 2019, because the adjacent River Trent had burst it's banks on the originally scheduled date and the subsequent flooding rendered the City Ground pitch waterlogged.
When these two sides last met, just eleven days ago, at the Madjeski Stadium, the game finished 1-1, after the Reds took the lead in the 96th minute, when Ben Watson volleyed home what looked to have been the winning goal... but agonisingly for Sabri Lamouchi's team, their Potugese defender: Tobias Figueiredo. inadvertently diverted Jordan Obita's cross into his own goal in the 97th.
Since then, Reading have seen off Blackpool in a FA Cup replay at Bloomfield Road, before going down 2-0 at Millwall on Saturday, while Forest beat Luton Town 3-1 in their last game, at the City Ground on Sunday.
A few weeks ago, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion appeared to be claiming the top two, automatic promotion spots for themselves, but a recent spell of erratic form has seen both of those teams allow the chasing pack, including Nottingham Forest, to make ground on them.
A win tonight would've seen Forest move to within two points of Leeds United, and though they nudged up a place in the table to fourth, and with third placed Fulham drawing 0-0 against Charlton Athletic at the Valley tonight, the Reds could've leapfrogged over them in the Championship too.
But, in the event, they had to settle for a draw, in a cagey, possibly even slightly nervy and not overly eventful game, as the mist rolled in from the Trent and Nottinghamshire based photographer Dan Westwell should've been awarded with the man of the match award, for heading the ball back onto the field of play, without even breaking from his pitch-side position, and pay scant regard to the safety of his spectacles and equipment, before diligently carrying on with his duties.
Lamouchi's promotion chasers held onto their lead for seventy seconds tonight, as Reading pegged them back again, late in the game, as the visiting supporters serenaded the home fans with a joyful refrain of: "Nottingham Forest... it's happening again!", a song that is usually sung at the City Ground when news filters through that Derby County are losing elsewhere (again).
I think that prior to kick off, it was probably universally agreed among the Forest faithful, that 'any kind of win', even a fluky and unconvincing one, was the most important aspect of this game... and the outpouring of tangible relief that met the opening goal, was largely evident as a consequence.
But whilst the City Ground was still rocking to the strains of "Lewis Grabban, he scores when he wants!", after the Forest number seven had netted his sixteenth goal of the season, from Sammy Ameobi's clever pass that had completely stranded the Royals keeper Rafael Cabral and his defence,
Sam Baldock, who'd entered the fray from the bench just four minutes eralier, got a shot away on the turn, despite the fact that he was surrounded by opposition players... and though Brice Samba almost kept the ball out, he couldn't quite stop it from crawling over the line.
A draw wasn't exactly the end of the world for the home side, but the four points they've dropped against Reading from winning positions, would've seen them level in the table with Leeds, and just one point behind the leaders West Brom.
Reading for their part, were very well organised, gave Forest no time to settle on the ball or allow them to dictate the shape or pace of the game and pounced effectively when the Reds just maybe switched off momentarily, after having had to play a patient waiting game, before finally making a breakthrough.
Sabri Lamouchi spoke wisely, calmly and philosophically in the aftermath of what had been a disappointing result and fairly lacklustre showing from his side... and he talked a lot of sense, in a very reassuring way, about their still being eighteen games of the Championship season still remaining. Although I would've also been interested to hear what he had to say about the slapstick comedy quality of some of Forest's miscued shots from just outside the Reading area, shortly before half-time.
Although some things are probably best left said in the dressing room and aren't really suitable for public consumption.
The Reds need to develop an in-house siege mentality in the run-in to the end of the season... and public bollockings aren't conducive to that kind of thing.
His side are next in action at fifth placed Brentford (who're a point behind Forest at the present time) next Tuesday night and following that they travel to Birmingham City a week on Saturday, before entertaining Leeds United at the City Ground the weekend after.
Reading, who moved up to fifteenth in the table tonight, have a home tie in the FA Cup on Saturday, before facing Bristol City at home in the Championship on Tuesday night. Then then play Cardiff (away) the following Saturday... the quick turnaround against the same opponents seems to be fast becoming a tradition for them.
And, for what it's worth... in my humble and impartially neutral opinion, I reckon that Jordan Obita and Ovie Ejaria are two of the best players that I've seen plying their trade in the Championship this season, Make no mistake about it, a draw and the subsequent point keeps Forest in contention at the business end of the table, but Reading deserved something out of this game for their efforts too.
Brice Samba; Matty Cash, Joe Worrall, Michael Dawson (C), Yuri Ribeiro, Ben Watson, Samba Sow (Joao Carvalho 61), Joe Lolley (Albert Adomah 89), Tiago Silva, Sammy Ameobi, Lewis Grabban
Unused subs - Jordan Smith, Carl Jenkinson, Alfa Semedo, Ryan Yates, Chema Rodriguez
Reading:
Rafael Cabral; Chris Gunter, Michael Morrison, Liam Moore (C), Tyler Blackett, John Swift, Michael Olise (Danny Loader 90), Pele, Ovie Ejaria, George Puscas (Sam Baldock 78), Jordan Obita
Unused subs - Sam Walker, Matt Miazga, Andy Rinomhota, Lucas Boye, Charlie Adam
When these two sides last met, just eleven days ago, at the Madjeski Stadium, the game finished 1-1, after the Reds took the lead in the 96th minute, when Ben Watson volleyed home what looked to have been the winning goal... but agonisingly for Sabri Lamouchi's team, their Potugese defender: Tobias Figueiredo. inadvertently diverted Jordan Obita's cross into his own goal in the 97th.
A few weeks ago, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion appeared to be claiming the top two, automatic promotion spots for themselves, but a recent spell of erratic form has seen both of those teams allow the chasing pack, including Nottingham Forest, to make ground on them.
A win tonight would've seen Forest move to within two points of Leeds United, and though they nudged up a place in the table to fourth, and with third placed Fulham drawing 0-0 against Charlton Athletic at the Valley tonight, the Reds could've leapfrogged over them in the Championship too.
I think that prior to kick off, it was probably universally agreed among the Forest faithful, that 'any kind of win', even a fluky and unconvincing one, was the most important aspect of this game... and the outpouring of tangible relief that met the opening goal, was largely evident as a consequence.
Sam Baldock, who'd entered the fray from the bench just four minutes eralier, got a shot away on the turn, despite the fact that he was surrounded by opposition players... and though Brice Samba almost kept the ball out, he couldn't quite stop it from crawling over the line.
A draw wasn't exactly the end of the world for the home side, but the four points they've dropped against Reading from winning positions, would've seen them level in the table with Leeds, and just one point behind the leaders West Brom.
Sabri Lamouchi spoke wisely, calmly and philosophically in the aftermath of what had been a disappointing result and fairly lacklustre showing from his side... and he talked a lot of sense, in a very reassuring way, about their still being eighteen games of the Championship season still remaining. Although I would've also been interested to hear what he had to say about the slapstick comedy quality of some of Forest's miscued shots from just outside the Reading area, shortly before half-time.
The Reds need to develop an in-house siege mentality in the run-in to the end of the season... and public bollockings aren't conducive to that kind of thing.
His side are next in action at fifth placed Brentford (who're a point behind Forest at the present time) next Tuesday night and following that they travel to Birmingham City a week on Saturday, before entertaining Leeds United at the City Ground the weekend after.
And, for what it's worth... in my humble and impartially neutral opinion, I reckon that Jordan Obita and Ovie Ejaria are two of the best players that I've seen plying their trade in the Championship this season, Make no mistake about it, a draw and the subsequent point keeps Forest in contention at the business end of the table, but Reading deserved something out of this game for their efforts too.
On a personal note, combining anything this week with my rota of night-shifts and a top-heavy schedule of hospital visits, while my wife is undergoing an intensive course of treatment and I'm still being monitored vis. the after effects of my recent tribulations, has been a logistical nightmare... and fatigue is becoming a very real issue; while travel, football matches and keeping this here blog up to date, have been knocked off the top of my list of priorities.
Life is what happens when you're making other plans.
So thanks to Dave who helps to organise the coaches to Forest games from Retford for allowing me to travel with them tonight. I promise that I wasn't spying on your team on behalf of Birmingham City ;-)
And, as many non-league games across the county were postponed and/or abandoned as the fog descended throughout the night, respect is due to the Kettlewells of Retford coach driver who got everyone home safely and in one piece. Hail to the bus-driver!
