It's Now Or Never

It's now or never for Championship wannabes Nottingham Forest, to show what they are made of and fire the club to promotion. It all starts on Friday at Yeovil in front of a TV audience, that by now must be as sick as we are at seeing the Reds lose on Sky TV.

The game looks set to be a sell out at both grounds, with the clubs reporting healthy ticket sales. Yeovil manager Russell Slade has done his best to rally support, asking the Huish Park faithful to get behind the team.

The Glovers have had a fantastic season and have earned their place in the playoffs on merit. Only four years ago they were playing in the Conference and in 2004/5, only their second season in the Football League, Yeovil were crowned champions of League Two and were promoted. This will not be a walk in the park for Forest, for in midfielder Chris Cohen, they have one of the best players in this League. He missed the City Ground game through injury, so will be keen to show his courtiers what he's all about. Chambers and Breckin will have their work cut out to keep him in check.

Forest as we know have been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season and at best are unpredictable. But, on a good day, with a fair wind blowing and a lot of luck, they have shown that they can live up to their billing as promotion favourites. Now would be a good time for the players to stand up and deliver. The game is sure to be a tense affair and if offered it now, I'm sure Reds fans would be happy with a scrappy 0-0.

Forest fan Russell Slade is delighted to be facing the Reds and said, 'It is going to be tough obviously and I had an inkling it would be Forest, my old team. We will give it our best shot - hopefully we are good enough to go through. It is a massive one for me and I hope my team can do the business.'

Club captain Terry Skiverton is a serious doubt after a scan revealed he had a bad groin strain.

At only 20 years of age and in his first full season, the former West Ham academy player has impressed so much so that Calderwood supposedly made a bid for him in the January transfer window.

Scott Dobie, Wes Morgan and Spencer Weir-Daley could force their way into contention for the tie. But it's expected that Forest will be unchanged from the side that drew 0-0 with Crewe.

Holt was this week named the clubs Player of the Year. Despite being nearly offloaded to rivals Bristol City he has forced the manager to stick with him and has netted 14 League goals and is the clubs top scorer.

The sides have met 4 times in the League, with Forest winning 3 and losing 1.

Forest v Yeovil. 2nd leg. May 18, 2007. 7.45pm

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