What the papers say: Nottingham Forest

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com

Nottingham Forest 3 Reading 4

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc ... HD=reading

Nottingham Forest's Championship play-off hopes were dealt another blow after an injury-time goal from substitute Simon Church gave top-six rivals Reading victory in an enthralling game at the City Ground.

It had looked like Lewis McGugan's 88th-minute penalty would salvage a draw for Forest but Chambers deflected Jem Karacan's early cross past Lee Camp, who then went on to save a penalty from Shane Long.

Ian Harte put Reading ahead but a Kris Boyd penalty and a goal from Robert Earnshaw turned the game on its head.

Karacan and Jimmy Kebe restored the Royals' lead before McGugan levelled from the penalty spot shortly before Chambers' unfortunate intervention.

Guy Moussi went straight back into the Forest side on his return from injury, replacing the suspended Chris Cohen in midfield.

Garath McCleary came in for the injured Paul Anderson while Earnshaw was recalled at the expense of Marcus Tudgay..

Mathieu Manset made his first start for Reading in one of two changes made by Royals boss Brian McDermott. The Frenchman replaced Steve (sic) Howard, while Mikele Leigertwood started ahead of Jay Tabb.

Long looked lively early on, setting up a couple of half-chances for Manset and forcing Camp into a routine save before winning the free-kick from which Reading took the lead.

The Republic of Ireland international had his heels clipped by Chris Gunter as he chased the ball on the left side of the area after 19 minutes.

Harte shot over the Forest wall and into the far top corner. Camp got a touch but could not keep it out.

Another Harte free-kick almost brought a second goal for the Royals just after the half-hour mark but his inswinging cross was headed over the crossbar by Manset.

Forest equalised seven minutes before the break when Lewis McGugan turned Leigertwood inside the area and fell over the midfielder's leg.

The referee took advice from his assistant before pointing to the spot and Boyd blasted the penalty into the bottom left corner.

Reading, after being in control for so much of the first half, were suddenly hanging on as Alex McCarthy did well to push away McCleary's swerving shot.

At the other end, Camp had to tip another free-kick from Harte over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

Harte continued to cause Forest problems early in the second half as Manset looped a header inches wide from the Irishman's cross.

However, the hosts went ahead in the 51st-minute when Earnshaw was allowed to drift inside the box before sending a shot across McCarthy that went in off the inside of the far post.

But the lead was shortlived as Karacan equalised three minutes later. The midfielder met Harte's corner 15 yards out and his header sailed over Camp and underneath the crossbar.

Reading almost edged ahead again on two occasions either side of the hour mark.

Kebe latched on to Leigertwood's long pass before lobbing the advancing Camp but his effort bounced wide of the open goal.

Camp then pushed away another shot from Kebe following great linked up play between the Malian and Manset.

However, Kebe was not to be denied for a third time in quick succession.

Jobi McAnuff's corner broke to Zurab Khizanishvili whose shot was blocked, but Kebe tucked in the rebound from six yards out.

Forest thought they had salvaged a point when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu brought down Gunter and McGugan converted the resulting penalty. However, Chambers turned the ball past Camp.

That was still not the end as an amazing game climaxed with a penalty save from Camp after Chambers had handled.

TEAMS

Nottingham Forest
1. Lee Camp
16. Chris Gunter
4. Luke Chambers
5. Wes Morgan
33. Joel Lynch (66)
12. Garath McCleary
19. Guy Moussi (65)
28. Radoslaw Majewski
8. Lewis McGugan
10. Robert Earnshaw (yellow card)
22. Kris Boyd (77)

SUBS
38. Karl Darlow (GK)
3. Paul Konchesky (66)
9. Dele Adebola (77)
11. Nathan Tyson (65)
17. David McGoldrick
20. Marcus Tudgay
27. Brendan Moloney

Reading
41. Alex McCarthy
2. Andy Griffin (yellow card)
16. Ivar Ingimarsson
15. Zurab Khizanishvili
23. Ian Harte
14. Jimmy Kebe (81) (yellow card)
8. Mikele Leigertwood
4. Jem Karacan
11. Jobi McAnuff
9. Shane Long
45. Mathieu Manset (77)

SUBS
1. Adam Federici (GK)
7. Jay Tabb
17. Michail Antonio
18. Simon Church (77)
19. Hal Robson-Kanu (81)
20. Brian Howard
26. Alex Pearce

Goals:

Nottm Forest
Kris Boyd pen 38
Robert Earnshaw 51
Lewis McGugan pen 88

Reading
Ian Harte 19
Jem Karacan 54
Jimmy Kebe 62
Simon Church 90


STAT ATTACK
Forest...............Reading
3.....Shots On Target......6
2.....Shots Off Target.....3
10....Fouls (Conceded)....7
5..........Corners..........4
1.......Yellow Cards........0
0.........Red Cards........0

[Far Canal]

thisisnottingham.co.uk

Forest suffer promotion blow following dramatic City Ground defeat by Reading

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport ... ticle.html

NOTTINGHAM Forest's play-off hopes took a hammer blow, as promotion rivals Reading claimed a vital victory in a spectacular game that was strewn with controversy.

The Royals triumphed 4-3 following an end-to-end affair that saw Forest twice come back from behind – and even take the lead themselves at one stage – before ultimately being undone by a cruel injury time goal that was claimed by substitute Simon Church, but seemed to have come off the boot of Reds defender Luke Chambers.

Reading took the lead through a controversial free-kick from Ian Harte, before Kris Boyd levelled from the penalty spot to leave the score at 1-1 at half-time.

Robert Earnshaw put Forest briefly ahead before Jem Karacan netted almost immediately to make it 2-2.

Jimmy Kebe then put the Royals ahead again, before an 88th minute penalty from Lewis McGugan seemed to have earned Forest a deserved point.

But then that injury time own goal ensured it was Reading who left with three points, after condemning Billy Davies' side to just their second home defeat in 40 matches.

Forest had made a bright start as a deflected Garath McCleary shot fell kindly for Kris Boyd, who forced a smart save from keeper Alex McCarthy – although his effort would have been ruled out for offside had it found the target.

Robert Earnshaw then sent a dipping volley narrowly wide, after Boyd had provided a knock-down on the edge of the box.

Guy Moussi was a influential figure in the centre of the pitch, producing several vital challenges to break up Reading's probing, passing play.

The liveliest figure for Reading was striker Shane Long, whose movement proved to be a constant threat.

And he was central to the game's opening goal, as Forest once again found themselves on the wrong end of a debatable piece of refereeing.

Defender Chris Gunter seemed to have made little contract with Long as he ran across the face of the box, but the Royals' number nine threw himself down in a heap , convincing referee Craig Pawson to award a free-kick in a dangerous position.

And veteran defender Ian Harte took full advantage, curling a superb shot over the defensive wall and high into the corner of the net, much to Forest's frustration, in the 19th minute.

Long was at it again when he went to ground as he and Luke Chambers tussled for the ball through the centre of the Forest defence but, despite failing to award a free-kick, referee Pawson did not punish the striker for diving.

Reading, who had been the better side even without the assistance of the referee, should have gone 2-0 up, if not for a shocking miss from Mathieu Manset, who headed over when unmarked, three yards out.

Forest almost punished the generosity of the finishing by drawing immediately level, as McGugan lashed a low half-volley, which keeper McCarthy saved well.

The winger was at the centre of Forest's response when they did draw level, however.

McGugan's quick feet lured Mikele Leigertwood into a lunging challenge in the box and, while referee Pawson hesitated, his assistant, Hambling, did not, as he placed his flag across his chest to indicate that a penalty should be awarded.

McGugan and Boyd briefly argued about who should take the spot kick, but after winning that dispute, Boyd was also decisive in his finish, smashing a vicious strike low to the keeper's right and just inside the post, to pull Forest level on 37 minutes.

Another dubious free-kick, awarded harshly against McCleary, gave Harte the chance to fire in another bending shot, which this time was parried well by Camp, at the expense of a corner.

Earnshaw clipped a shot wide in the first attack of the second half, but it was Reading who should really have scored for the visitors, as he again missed a golden headed opportunity, this time directing his effort narrowly wide after being picked out by Harte.

McGugan might have done better when he was sent surging into space down the left by Gunter, but crossed poorly and allowed keeper McCarthy to pounce on the ball.

Within seconds, however, the midfielder did rather better with his delivery, sliding Earnshaw in to fire Forest ahead for the first time in the 51st minute.

Earnshaw still had plenty to do after McGugan had rolled the ball into his path, but he stroked a precise shot across goal, which found the net off the inside of the far post.

Forest's lead was to last barely two minutes, however, as Reading quickly equalised, as Harte curled a corner to the edge of the box where Jem Karacan sent a looping header over a melee of players and into the back of the net.

There was a bizarre incident when Reading keeper McCarthy tossed the ball up in the air to kick it and had it snatched away by Earnshaw.

The striker then prodded the ball into the empty net – but was booked for unsporting conduct.

It was truly an end to end affair, with McCleary completing a powerful run with an equally forceful shot that was charged down, but only to McGugan who also then saw his shot bravely blocked by Khiznishvili.

Jimmy Kebe had two fantastic opportunities to restore Reading's lead in the space of two minutes.

He firstly lobbed wide of the target after Camp had come rushing out of his box to challenge and then saw the keeper make a fine save after his pace had carried him clear of the home defence down the right.

But he was not about to miss a third chance and, after Camp had made an instinctive save to thwart Khiznishvili, Kebe was left with the simple task of lashing a close range shot high into the roof of the net, with 62 minutes gone.

Forest made a double change shortly after, with the tiring Moussi replaced by Nathan Tyson and Paul Konchesky brought on for Lynch at left back.

Tyson spurned a decent opportunity after a Boyd shot had been charged down, lifting a panicked shot high and wide when he had time to compose himself.

Forest made a third and final change, introducing Dele Adebola for Boyd, as they went in search of an equaliser.

The Reds were furious not to be awarded a second penalty when Adebola appeared to have been obviously hacked down in the box by McAnuff.

But, a minute later they were awarded a penalty for what looked to be a lesser claim, when Gunter went down under a challenge from substitute Hal Robson-Kanu.

With Boyd no longer on the pitch, McGugan was this time free to take the kick – and produced a carbon-copy finish, stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the net to the keeper's right, to pull the home side level in the 88th minute.

But again, the celebrations were short-lived, as a remarkable game produced another, painful twist.

When the ball was delivered in from the right Chambers and sub Simon Church both slid in to challenge and, with the defender seeming to get the final touch, the ball ended up nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

There was more drama still, as Reading were then awarded an injury time penalty for, slightly harshly, a handball by Chambers.

But Long saw his spot-kick saved, in brilliant fashion, by Camp, plunging low to his right.

It was not enough to prevent defeat however, as Reading survived yet another penalty claim against them, to hang on for victory.

*******************************************************************************

Interesting to see complaints about a player diving from the club that employs Robert Earnshaw. FC.

[peterroyal76]

Surely this must be the most biased match report ever?

[Ark Royal]

...Adebola appeared to have been obviously hacked down in the box by McAnuff.

WTF?

[Ian Royal]

Reading boosted their Championship play-off hopes with a thrilling last-gasp win at fading Nottingham Forest.

Ian Harte's accurate free-kick put the visitors ahead, but Kris Boyd's penalty and a clinical Robert Earnshaw effort put the hosts briefly in command.

Jem Karacan and Jimmy Kebe restored the Royals' lead only for Lewis McGugan's 88th-minute penalty to level affairs.

But late drama ensued as Luke Chambers deflected an own goal past Lee Camp, who then saved a Shane Long spot kick.

Forest's ambitions of being promoted to the Premier League looks to be slipping away after an enthralling match in which they looked to have snatched a late draw until Chambers' untimely intervention.

Reading took the lead when Republic of Ireland international Long had his heels clipped by Chris Gunter when he chased the ball on the left side of the area after 19 minutes.

Harte shot over the Forest wall and into the far top corner with Camp unable to keep it out.

Forest equalised seven minutes before the break when McGugan turned Mikele Leigertwood inside the area and fell over the midfielder's leg.

Boyd blasted the penalty into the bottom left corner without fuss.

After being in control for so much of the first half, Reading were suddenly hanging on as keeper Alex McCarthy did well to keep them in the game.

But the hosts went ahead in the 51st-minute when Earnshaw was allowed to drift inside the box before sending a shot across McCarthy that went in off the inside of the far post.

Yet that lead was shortlived as Karacan equalised three minutes later, the midfielder meeting Harte's corner 15 yards out with a header that sailed over Camp but underneath his crossbar.

Impressive Kebe then tucked in a rebound from Zurab Khizanishvili's blocked shot.

Forest, though, thought they had salvaged a point when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu brought down Gunter before McGugan converted the resulting penalty.

But, in a frantic finale, Chambers accidentally turned the ball past Camp to give Reading a vital three points before Forest's unfortunate keeper saved Long's penalty after unlucky Chambers had handled.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

...Adebola appeared to have been obviously hacked down in the box by McAnuff.

WTF?

TBF that is what happened. Ref didn't give the pen & then made up for it 2 mins later by awarding one for a not as blatant foul.

[RoyalBlue]

There was a bizarre incident when Reading keeper McCarthy tossed the ball up in the air to kick it and had it snatched away by Earnshaw.

The striker then prodded the ball into the empty net – but was booked for unsporting conduct.

IIRC, that's not the first time that Earnshaw has pulled that stunt!

Also, if anyone deserves the Skittles tag, it has to be Earnshaw, as I pointed out to a Forest supporting colleague who was moaning about Long.

[Cookie]

What a sweet result. We never win at the City Ground.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

There was a bizarre incident when Reading keeper McCarthy tossed the ball up in the air to kick it and had it snatched away by Earnshaw.

The striker then prodded the ball into the empty net – but was booked for unsporting conduct.

IIRC, that's not the first time that Earnshaw has pulled that stunt!

Indeed, and also not the first time he would have been booked for it.

IIRC, the rules state that during the act of kicking from hand, the goalkeeper is deemed to have full control (i.e. 2 hands on the ball) throughout the whole movement - even the part where the ball is in the air just prior to it being kicked.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

From the BBC (and should possibly go on the "Media don't like us thread):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/12945047.stm

Forest equalised seven minutes before the break when McGugan turned Mikele Leigertwood inside the area and fell over the midfielder's leg.

I thought it was Harte who conceded the first penalty?

[Ian Royal]

From seeing the goals on SSN definitely Legs. Went into the back of McGugen, fast, right on the edge of the box. Not convinced it was a foul as I don't think he really impeded him much, but McGugen felt the contact and went down like he'd been poleaxed.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Fair fcuks - was only going off what Graham McKechnie (sp) was saying on BBCRB.

[Ian Royal]

radio ftw.

I'll look a bit silly now if it turns out I'm wrong, won't I!

[roadrunner]

Not a paper but the football league show said Forest had taken 4 points from 24 before their game with us.

4 from 27 now.

Oh dear.

[Ian Royal]

Not a paper but the football league show said Forest had taken 4 points from 24 before their game with us.

4 from 27 now.

Oh dear.

That's why they are bottom of the form table and we are top of it.

[Royalee]

Didn't think either of their pens should've been given tbf and ours was 50/50.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Harte 8/10 and in team of the day in the NOTW........................again

[Royal With Cheese]

Didn't think either of their pens should've been given tbf and ours was 50/50.

I always try to look at it like "If Shane Long had have done that, would I have been howling for a penalty?"
I think I'd have been dissappointed not to get at least one of them if it had have been the other way round.

[Sarah Star]

Another from The Nottingham Post, but interesting for the comments about our team.

Fading Forest have their short-fallings ruthlessly exposed

AS they took a pre-match stroll through Nottingham's Old Market Square, Reading's players looked a little like a group of foreign tourists who had become lost trying to find the castle.

Led by Brian McDermott, a man who looks more like a friendly history teacher than a football manager, they hardly cut the image of a team of footballers who were keenly focused on getting the job done, as they shuffled along aimlessly.

Unfortunately, for Nottingham Forest at least, appearances can be deceptive.

Because, on Saturday, Reading provided a clear cut demonstration of all the qualities that are required in a side hoping to challenge for promotion – while ruthlessly exposing the short-fallings of a Forest team whose own aspirations seem to be fading by the minute.

They might have shuffled around the city centre sights with a vague look of disinterest a few hours before. But once they stepped onto the pitch they were ruthlessly focused.

This was a match Billy Davies' side might easily have won. But, instead, their opponents ultimately mustered the character and determination to pull off a victory that left Forest's play-off hopes significantly dented.

Prior to kick-off, Reading's Jay Tabb spoke of the tremendous depth of squad and the spirit that exists within it. The Royals, he said 'have at least two players available to play in every position and we all fight for those places'.

As if to demonstrate that, Tabb never made it onto the City Ground pitch off the bench, although he was among the first to race onto the pitch at the final whistle, to join the celebrations following a result that could prove to be a landmark for both sides, for very different reasons.

In contrast, Forest were forced to draft a half-fit Guy Moussi back into a team that had been left bereft of defensive midfield options by a frustrating blend of injury, suspension and transfer market failures. Rather than having two players available in every position, in some, Forest are currently struggling to muster up one.

In fairness, the Frenchman was Forest's best player, for the hour he was able to manage before tiring dramatically, following a typically swashbuckling, toiling display.

When Burnley visit tomorrow, Moussi may not be fit to play a second game in such a short space of time, after being sidelined for two months with a torn thigh muscle, skipper Paul McKenna continues to struggle with a groin problem and Chris Cohen remains, controversially, suspended, for another two matches.

All of which leaves Davies with a significant headache in midfield.

But the manager's biggest issue may yet be how to restore self-confidence into a side that has now failed to win in nine matches.

Within that run there have been performances that have merited more – and Saturday can be included in that bracket.

And, while Forest may have done enough to have deserved a share of the spoils on Saturday, this is still not the same side that, just a few months ago, was churning out results with the same brand of ruthless efficiency that Reading had this weekend.

In fact, in the last three matches, one of the main qualities that had made Forest such a force to be reckoned with during their climb up to second in the table has deserted them completely.

While they might have scored six goals in three games to address their previous lack of cutting edge at one end of the pitch, the issue now lies at the other where they have now conceded 11 goals during the same period.

That statistic is put into stark perspective when you consider that, in their previous 37 games, Lee Camp had been beaten only 32 times.

In fact, until January, Forest had conceded more than one goal in a match on only three occasions, during the first half of the campaign.

That was a telling factor, when you consider that 11 of Forest's wins have come by the margin of a single goal.

But now – and on Saturday in particular – they seemed helpless to stem the tide.

As Davies lamented afterwards, no team should expect to lose, having scored three goals at home.

But that is exactly what happened as, time and again, Reading refused to be beaten, until they ultimately emerged victorious in injury time.

On Tuesday night, when Reading scraped a 2-1 win over Preston at the Madejski Stadium, full-backs Andy Griffin and Ian Harte had seemed to be the obvious weak link.

Suffering a crippling lack of pace, it seemed an area that Forest might be able to exploit.

It did not quite turn out that way, however as, following a harsh free-kick awarded against Chris Gunter after Shane Long had gone down like a felled redwood on the edge of the box, following the slightest of contacts, Harte stepped up to deliver an unstoppable shot high into the corner of Camp's net.

Forest equalised when the quick feet of Lewis McGugan lured Mikele Leigertwood into a trip, with Kris Boyd converting from the spot.

After the break, McGugan laid off the ball for Robert Earnshaw to provide a trademark finish, lashed in off the foot of the post, to put Forest ahead for the only time in the game, in the 51st minute.

And that lead lasted only three minutes, before Jam Karacan sent a looping header over the keeper, from the edge of the box, after Harte had angled in a delicious corner.

With Moussi, understandably, tiring, Forest's midfield was hardly packed with defensive strength, with McGugan, Radi Majewski and Garath McCleary – as well as Nathan Tyson, who replaced Moussi in the 65th minute – all more attack-minded players. And this showed as Forest's back four found themselves with less and less protection.

Although, there was some degree of good fortune involved when, after Camp had punched clear a shot from Zurab Khizanishvili, the ball fell kindly for Jimmy Kebe to lash home from close range.

Forest should have had a penalty when substitute Dele Adebola was hacked down at the knees in the box.

But referee Craig Pawson – whose inconsistency must have frustrated both sides – made amends by awarding Forest a second spot-kick, that was probably less clear cut, after Gunter fell under a slight push from Griffin.

When McGugan converted, in the 88th minute, it seemed certain that the match would end in a draw.

But Reading had other ideas and, when Forest failed to prevent a quick free-kick being taken, Karacan was sent racing into space down the right to deliver a telling cross which Simon Church is claiming to have applied the final touch to – and is likely to hear little argument from Luke Chambers, who was also sliding in to challenge.

The drama still wasn't over as Gunter handled in the box to earn Reading an injury-time penalty, which saw Long denied brilliantly by Camp.

In little over a month's time, Forest will still be hoping to be taking a trip of their own, down to the capital for the play-off final.

But, if that is going to happen, there must be a dramatic change of fortunes. And it has to begin tomorrow.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport ... ticle.html

[brendywendy]

good article, reasonable comments and observations