Earnshaw Brace Ends A Decent Pre-Season

Nottingham Forest have ended their preparations for the new season in the Championship, with a 3-2 win over Notts County.

The final warm up game before the season proper starts next week, saw striker Robert Earnshaw bag a brace. It brings to an end a decent preseason for Forest, that will give the club and fans alike a lot of heart.

Whilst preseason games will always be a poor yardstick as to how well a team is going to perform, this one for Forest has been more positive than many of late. Calderwood will still have a few question marks hanging over his head from last season, but on the evidence shown in the warm up games, it looks like the team may be set to provide a more entertaining style of play that is at least easier on the eye than what was served up last year.

Today's game at Meadow Lane was a close run one in the end, but barring a final 10 minute spell in which the home side pulled a couple back, the Reds were home and dry and were comfortable winners long before Notts almost drew level.

Robert Earnshaw became the latest player to be singled out for praise by the manager, when Calderwood told the official site. 'I was toying with the idea of not starting with Robert, just giving him a rest, but when I talked to him he made it clear he wanted to play. He took his goals really well and looked sharp and full of confidence. Robert has brought so much more to the club than we expected - his attitude is spot - on and he gives so much more to the younger members of the squad.'

That should hopefully give our main goal threat for the season ahead, the perfect boost before the meeting with Reading next Sunday at the City Ground. All in all, not a bad preseason and one that will at least put us all in a positive mood for it come the start next week.

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