There's Only One Decent Lester

Every week the City Ground terraces echo to the chant of 'There's only one decent Lester.' This was something that until quite recently had me confused, because in the last season and a half he has been a shadow of his former self. I was constantly at a loss why week in and week out fans would chant his name regardless of how he was playing, not dissimilar to the adulation heaped on David Johnson. To me it was quite undeserved, probably more so in Johnson's case.

But, as they say, football is indeed a funny old game. Jack Lester was one of the first choice strikers when Colin Calderwood took charge in the summer, but it was not long before he found himself frozen out. It was beginning to look as if he was surplus to requirements at the City Ground. That was until Calderwood hit on the idea of playing the striker in an attacking midfield roll.

Lester has proved to be an important cog in the Forest wheel since taking up his new found position and it's a roll that has been drawing praise from his fellow players. Captain Ian Breckin says
'Jack has done ever so well since he has come back into the team. He is playing in that role just behind the front two and he looks good there,' said Breckin.

'Sometimes this season when we have picked up the ball at the back all you see is a row of backsides running away from you.

'Jack is one of those players who will come deep for the ball and give you an easy pass - he will give you an outlet. That gives you an option other than having to just launch it down the pitch.

'The last few games we have shown the importance of that. We have kept the ball much better than we had done previously.'

Grant Holt who misses tomorrows game through suspension said of Lester. 'Jack has not been in the team as much, he has probably been a little frustrated. But he has been given a chance again and he has taken it well,' said Holt

'At the minute he is probably the best player. But he is a good player, everyone here knows what he can do when he has the ball at his feet. It was a great finish from him last Saturday - it was just a shame that we could not hold on.'

If Forest are to gain promotion this season, it looks as though alot will depend on an in form Lester.


All quotes from Nottingham Evening Post.

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