The Run Goes On: Forest 2-0 City

Forest ran out deserved 2-0 winners over Coventry at the City Ground and proved once again that, despite what manager Billy Davies says, they are serious contenders for promotion. This win stretches the unbeaten run to 16 games, it's the 5th clean sheet on the bounce and we now sit comfortably in 3rd place in the table, 6 points ahead of Cardiff in 4th.

Davies made 5 changes to the team that battled for a draw at Watford, with Morgan and Majewski returning. Tyson replaced Anderson and Blackstock and Earnshaw replaced McGoldrick and Adebola upfront. It was an attacking lineup and showed that once again, Billy Davies would be going for it at home.

The game started at a frantic pace, with Forest very much on the front foot. Tyson did all afternoon, what Tyson does best, in terrorising the City defence with his pacey runs. A great pass from Nicky Shorey, saw him beat the visitors once again, but his brilliant dipping shot into the top of the net, was adjudged to have been off side by referee Clattenburg. That was just about the only decision, the hapless ref got right all game.

The visitors were not without their chances though, as Forest seemed content to let them have the ball. Davies' gameplan, was clearly to let them play and then hit them on the break. We rode our luck at times, but it was a plan that appeared to work. One moment where the Reds' definitely rode their luck, was when Leon Best had Camp well beaten with a long range effort that went just wide of the post. As the game settled, it became a little scrappy at times, but when the Reds' could get the ball down and play, we did look a threat on the break.

The goal that broke the deadlock, came just before the break and it was all down to some great individual skill from the youngster Majewski. The young Pole, picked the ball up just inside the visitors half and ran with the ball, throwing off a couple of challenges from the City defence along the way. At one stage he looked to have missed a great pass to Blackstock, who would have been clean through on goal, but he opted to go and beat another City defender. Just as you thought he'd gone and messed it all up, he sent the sweetest of through balls into the path of the onrushing Earnshaw, who had the task of lifting the ball over the body of the advancing keeper Westwood. It was a beautiful goal and it's one of those that will be worth watching again and again.

Forest took their deserved lead into the break and the near sellout crowd, will have been fairly happy with what they saw. Although it wasn't quite living up to the heights of recent home games, in terms of quality on show, Forest were competing against a resolute City side and yet another ref who didn't have a clue.

City had a chance to draw level in the early stages of the second half, when Morrison forced Camp to push a shot wide of the post. The game was becoming more open and Forest could have doubled their lead, when Tyson sent a shot just over from distance. As hard as the visitors tried though, the Reds' defence held firm. Wilson and Morgan at the back, were once again in fine form, with Wilson at times looking very composed and comfortable on the ball.

Earnshaw, who had worked tirelessly throughout, was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Adebola. It was after some great work by the sub, that Forest got their second and decisive goal of the game. Adebola fed a neat ball to Blackstock, who from the tightest of angles, let rip with an absolute bullet that flew into the net, giving Westwood no chance at all to even see it whizz past him.

This wasn't vintage Forest by any means, but it was nonetheless a great result. Coventry came here and in fairness to them, they gave it a go. But, thanks to some sterling work at the back, a battling display in midfield and an attack that looks so full of goals, the Reds' deservedly came out on top. The lads have the FA Cup and the visit of high flying Birmingham to look forward to next. That one might give us an insight into how good we really are....depending of course on who the manager picks.

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