The alarm bells were ringing before the match even started when the official site commentary was down and the only audio on offer was the BBC Forest stream. The next 45 minutes would have been bad on any given day but that just made things a whole lot worse.
An early kick off of 1pm in Nottingham means a 10pm kick off Down Under. The excitement and expectation that goes along with a game like this had built to fever pitch over the course of my afternoon.
I settled down with some links that would enable me to watch the game online where it was being shown live on TV in far away lands. So much for the Championship gaining better TV coverage this season… oh sorry, I forgot Newcastle or Boro weren’t involved.
Things started terribly for me as the links at my disposal produced either nil result or stuttering unwatchable pictures, much the same as the football Derby produced.
Going behind inside the first minute was the stuff of nightmares for the Rams and an erotic dream for Davies and the Forest fans.
Majewski’s 20 yard screamer was an awesome strike that deserved the result but with only 58 seconds on the clock, it was all to do for Derby.
Sadly the Rams did little as a few half chances made no impact before the lead became 2-0 on 28 minutes. A Cohen free kick curled into a sea of heads, the resulting bedlam in the box caused a couple of deflections before the ball eventually found itself over the line. The last of those seemed to come from the head of Rob Hulse. Blackstock celebrated but it was definitely a Hulse own goal.
With only five minutes before the break Hulse headed home what seemed to be the Rams first but as happens on a day when everything is going against you, the referee thought otherwise and instead awarded a foul against him for a push on his opponent.
Forest made it 3-0 just before the break as Tyson slid the ball into the net after a howling error from Commons. After his heroics last season Kris had been involved in everything bad about the first half display and although I don’t like blaming one player, I think most fans would agree he could be blamed for two of the three goals.
HT: 3 – 0
With my live link now up and working and the game live on my screen, I found Nigel had also felt Commons had done enough to help Forest. Lee Croft had entered the fray and taken his place for the second half.
Although Croft was the only new player introduced, it seemed once the whistle went every player on the pitch had been replaced. The performance that followed showed little resemblance to that of the first half. The Rams were ready to make Forest fight for this one.
On 51 minutes some attacking play from Connolly produced a cross to Buxton who flicked to Addison and his over head kick that after glancing Forest defender Morgan, sent keeper Camp the wrong way. Another own goal and some much needed luck that had Derby back on life support.
Croft was making some great runs down the right and causing the reds massive headaches. On 62 minutes he pumped a cross in after a probing run that found Hulse, his header fell to Livermore and the resulting strike took another deflection off a defender it was 3-2. Another own goal, more luck and it was game on!
What followed was over half an hour of fabulous football from Derby. They passed, probed, tackled like their lives depended on it and totally tore Forest to pieces. Sadly the only thing their brilliant display lacked was more goals.
Paul Dickov entered proceedings with 5 minutes to go and I for one felt he showed some good touch, held the ball well and produced a few tricks. Despite some fan backlash after his signing, he may surprise when given more time on the park.
If the team had capitalised on the chances they created, the score line could have ended 3-6 but sadly for the travelling fans they were never to see an equaliser. Poor finishing and final balls lacking composure made sure that the final score line would see them eventually beaten by a nose.
FT: 3 - 2
With 8 and a half minutes of extra time played after injury and scuffles, there were comical scenes following the final whistle that were more sad than humorous.
Billy Davies felt the need to run and wave at the travelling Rams fans which started the ill feeling. Nathan Tyson then followed his manager’s immature lead and made a souvenir of a corner flag that just happened to be near the travelling Derby fans.
Forest fans would have you believe he then innocently decided to wave it at them which lead to Leacock and Teale confronting him about his behaviour. From there both sets of players joined in to produce plenty of push and shove which no doubt will interest the FA greatly.
Having to listen to BBC Forest and their commentary, I had the pleasure of listening to Billy Davies claim his team was shattered and tired at half time from their midweek game and massive first half.
Davies stated that he let them do nothing for two days between games but it seems he would prefer an excuse rather than looking into why his squad of fit, professional footballers would be unable to run out a full game. Nothing has changed.
His other comments basically excused the scuffles at the end of the game because it was ok for Savage last season but now not ok for his player this season. It seems he forgets that most of what Robbie did took place in front of his own fans. A silly act that luckily did not end in disaster, sadly I doubt wee Billy will see it that way.
It seems that Forest fans are very quick to forget their heroes of the past for a quick fix of glory in the present. They also forget how respectful Nigel was in doing his upmost not to offend his former club and fans last season.
I concluded as much after the game when I received a text from a former RamZone match reporter who imparted his thoughts on the game. I think its contents are a fitting way to sum up the match.
An ill tempered game was lost because Forest (in the second half)was not good enough to score as many goals in the same net as they did in the first half. Forest were petulant and a petty ref was poor, letting too much go.
After the match while walking out, the reds were singing “there is only one decent Clough”.
As Ol’ Big ‘Ead himself would have said: “Oh Nottingham… that’s disgraceful”.
Teams:
FOREST:
Camp; Gunter, Morgan, Chambers, Cohen; Garner (McCleary 64), McKenna, Majewski, Tyson; McGoldrick (Earnshaw 74), Blackstock (Adebola 58).
Unused subs: Smith, Anderson, Davies, Mitchell.
DERBY:
Bywater; Connolly, Addison, Buxton (Dickov 86), Moxey; Teale, Livermore (Green 79), Savage, Pearson, Commons (Croft 46); Hulse.
Unused subs: Deeney, McEveley, Leacock, Barker.
Referee: M Atkinson
Attendance: 28,143 (Travelling Rams: 4,376)
Man of the Match (as judged from Down Under):
Lee Croft - He only played a half but then so did Derby. Croft was involved in everything good about the come back, showing pace and attacking intent that the Rams sorely needed. More please!