Earnshaw Hat Trick Tears Foxes Apart

Sometimes in the world of football, you witness such a mis match in opponents, that it's embarassing to watch. But the football masterclass served up by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, was an absolute joy to watch, as they systematically tore apart Leicester City and leapfrogged them into 3rd place in the table. The 5-1 scoreline was thoroughly deserved and it's one that will make the rest of the Championship sit up and take note , that the Reds' of Nottingham Forest are back and that they mean business.

After a tentative start, the Reds' settled well and opened the scoring on 12 mins, with a great goal from Little Earn. Earnshaw threw a dummy on the edge of the box and saw the ball picked up by Blackstock. Dex's perfectly timed throughball, saw Earnie with the easy task of placing the ball past Weale in the City goal.

Paul Anderson should have made it 2, when he found himself one on one with Weale. Instead of side footing a pass to the unmarked Earnshaw, he was outwitted by the keeper, who came out to smother the ball. It was a great run from Ando though and you couldn't blame him for having a go.

The boys of the Mercian Regiment were treated to a standing ovation, when they entered the ground. It was nice to see the entire ground, including the 4,000 from Leicester give them a heroes salute upon their return from fighting.

Forest continued to pile on the pressure and were doing it in style. Majewski was proving to be a pain to the City defence and his fancy stepovers were mesmerising to watch. With Kelvin Wilson looking cultured and poised at the back, the Reds' were running the Foxes all over the park.

Earnies second came from a deflected Cohen shot, that was hit home by the striker with force. 2-0 at the break and no less than the lads deserved, from a thoroughly entertaining half. Once again the half time chat between fans, was about how good we looked on the ball. This was the best of the tippy tappy stuff we've seen all season and it was only going to get better in the second half.

Forest started the second half, where they left off in the first. Earnie bagged his hat trick with a brilliant solo effort, that saw him win the ball in the middle of the park and go at the City defence on his own. He soon shook off his chasers and let rip with a thunderbolt, that had Weale well beaten in the Foxes goal. Forest began to play with a pomp and swagger, that's been missing for so long. The ball was passed to feet and the tackles were flying in. The Reds' were winning all the battles today and in every department, each man did his job.

City were very unlucky not to have won a penalty, after Wilson brought down a City player inside the box. Although referee Russell initially pointed to the spot, the blind linesman signalled the foul had been committed outside. It was the wrong decision, but clearly nothing was going the visitors way today.

Anderson got the 4th and it was a goal he deserved after terrorising the Foxes all afternoon. He hit a curling shot from 20 yards out, that once again left keeper Weale with no chance at all. The Reds' were on fire, but this was nothing less than they deserved from a quite emphatic and dominating display.

The penalty mistake was rectified in the 63rd min, when Russell harshly awarded the visitors a pen, after the ball was blasted against a Forest defenders hand. It probably wouldn't have been given on another day, but he clearly knew he got the first one wrong. Waghorn firmly sent the ball past Camp and gave the travelling Foxes at least something to cheer.

Davies then made his substitutions and as each of Majewski, Anderson and Blackstock went off to rapturous applause, on came McCleary, Adebola and Tyson to the same. McCleary went on all out attack from the second he came on and could have had a goal with almost his first touch. His flying shot, went just over the bar, as the Reds' continued to lay siege on the City goal.

It was another McCleary shot that almost got the 5th, but his well struck effort was deflected to Adebola, who cooly hit the rebound home, to give the lads an emphatic win. This was a truly awesome performance from the team today and one that should send shockwaves throughout the division. Billy Davies will no doubt play things down, but make no mistake, the Forest of old are back and looking worthy 3rd placed candidates at this moment in time. As Old Jom predicted on the forum on Friday, 'They will be shat upon from a great height by a surge of Redness.' I think we can safely say, they were.

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