Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Saturday, 29th Mar 2014 17:10

Daryl Murphy headed home his 11th goal of the season 12 minutes from time to see the Blues to a 1-1 home draw with Nottingham Forest. Town fought back in the second half after a disappointing display before the break had seen them trailing to former loanee Danny Collins’s fourth minute goal at half-time.

Cole Skuse returned to central midfield in place of Anthony Wordsworth after a two-game absence with the former Colchester man dropping out of the 18.

Forest handed a surprise debut to 19-year-old England U19 international midfielder Ben Osborn from the start.

As against Derby on Tuesday, Town went behind early on. Daniel Fox sent over a fourth minute corner from the left and ex-Blues loan defender Collins rose highest to nod home his first goal for Forest.

The goal had come against the early run of play with the Blues having had most of the ball. After going behind, Town went looking for an equaliser, keeper Karl Darlow claiming Stephen Hunt’s cross from the left, then Paul Anderson hitting a shot across the face of goal from the other flank.

On 12 Darlow failed to reach a Hunt corner from the left, the ball falling loose to Luke Chambers, but the Blues skipper’s strike was blocked.

Town continued to have most of the ball, Jonny Williams nodding Skuse’s drifting cross in from the left over. At the other end, Collins turned a freekick to Town keeper Dean Gerken from the edge of the box.

Forest should have been two in front in the 18th minute when Jamie Paterson broke into the Town half following a Blues freekick with only Chambers to beat. The Blues captain did superbly to hold him up while he waited for Cresswell and the rest of his team-mates to get back, before stabbing the ball away from the former Walsall man.

Despite Town having a lot of the ball, the visitors were looking by far the more threatening team on the break with Paterson coming close to adding a second in the 24th minute when he cut in and hit a goal-bound shot which deflected wide. Three minutes later, former Colchester man Greg Halford was booked for a body check on Anderson.

Town almost gifted Forest a second in the 32nd minute when Cresswell’s clearance from the left hit Mackie and fell to Paterson inside the area. He laid it back to Radoslaw Majewski but his shot was blocked and Anderson eventually put the ball behind.

Anderson, who had looked uncomfortable since Halford’s earlier challenge, was switched for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the 35th minute.

The visitors had another good chance a minute later when Jamie Mackie was sent through on the right of the area by Paterson but Gerken came off his line quickly to save with his foot.

For the Blues, Murphy crossed from the right but just in front of Ebanks-Blake, then Hunt shot over from distance. Soon after Williams crossed on to the roof of the net.

Town were continuing to have a lot of the ball but without creating any serious chances, while Forest were presenting a much greater threat on the break.

And that was how things continued until the whistle. Having conceded the early set-piece goal the Blues huffed and puffed but rarely looked like getting back on terms and were fortunate not to find themselves further behind with Forest always a danger on the counter-attack.

Boss McCarthy switched Hunt for Frank Nouble ahead of the restart as the Blues moved to a very attacking looking 4-3-3 with Williams between the strikers and Luke Hyam and Skuse. Gonzalo Jara picked up the second half’s first yellow card for a foul on Murphy.

Only a superb Darlow save prevented the Blues from getting back on terms in the 48th minute. Cresswell whipped in a freekick from the left and Ebanks-Blake headed powerfully goalwards but the Forest keeper got down to block superbly. Moments later, Collins got in ahead of Tommy Smith from a Town corner on the right.

The Blues continued to look dangerous in the early stages of the half, the increasingly-involved Cresswell twice seeing shots blocked. Forest created little until the 59th minute when Paterson scuffed a low effort through to Gerken.

Smith headed Williams’s corner from the right over on 62, then three minutes later Skuse hit a 25-yard strike which Darlow claimed to his left.

Murphy went close to getting the Blues level in the 70th minute when Williams teed him up 25 yards out. The Irishman’s curling shot looked goal-bound until Darlow got across to his right to tip it around the post.

Two minutes later, Fox was booked for pulling back Murphy five yards outside the area, Cresswell subsequently chipping a somewhat weak freekick through to Darlow.

On 77 Murphy did well to find himself some space 25 yards out but scraped his shot wide. Town were continuing to dominate but without carving out too many clear-cut openings.

However, a minute later, they finally got on terms. Cresswell took a corner short to Nouble and the former West Ham striker chipped a cross to the far post where Murphy powerfully headed home his 11th goal of the season.

Williams received Town’s first caution of the afternoon for a foul on Fox as Town looked for a late winner for the second time in a few days.

But it was Forest who would threaten next, Paterson’s cross-shot looping just over, prior to Paul Green replacing Williams, who received a warm ovation as he came off.

The visitors swapped Majewski for Matt Derbyshire and the striker wasn’t far away from a goal within a minute of coming on, his flicked header from Fox’s corner just beating the post.

Town really should have grabbed the winner in the 89th minute when Collins gave the ball away midway inside his own half. Murphy took the ball on but shot against a defender when Green was well placed in space to his right calling for the ball.

As the scheduled 90 minutes came to an end Nouble lashed a superb strike from the left which Darlow did brilliantly to push past his post.

Hyam saw a strike blocked after Green’s poor corner was cleared to him on the edge of the box, then Chambers headed over after Green had returned the ball back into the box. Darlow had his name added to referee Andrew Madley’s book shortly before the official blew his final whistle.

A draw was probably a fair result with Town better after the break and having had chances to win it. But for a series of excellent saves from Forest keeper Darlow — the stop from Ebanks-Blake the pick - the Blues would have celebrating their third win in three days.

However, that might have been harsh on the visitors who presented far the greater threat before half-time and might have had the game won by that stage if they had taken their opportunities.

Despite failing to achieve the hoped for victory over Forest — who are now 10 games without a win - seven points from three successive games against fellow play-off challengers is a better return than most expected for the Blues, who remain eighth two points from the top six.

Town: Gerken, Cresswell, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam, Hunt (Nouble 46), Anderson (Ebanks-Blake 35), Williams (Green 85), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Richardson.

Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Jara, Halford, Collins(c), Fox, Greening, Peltier, Osborn, Majewski (Derbyshire 86), Paterson, Mackie. Unused: De Vries, Harding, Tudgay , McLaughlin, Cox, Blake. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 17,955 (Forest: 1,027).

Photo: Action Images

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JCBLUE added 18:30 - Mar 29 March results: W4, D1, L2, good month & still in with a fighting chance for 6th place. COYB!!
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bluefeast added 18:35 - Mar 29 we will finish 5th
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bluelady added 19:00 - Mar 29

Two observations today 1. The management are turning big Frank into a real player!!! He radiates confidence, wins headers, takes players on and can cross the ball - genius! A country mile from the no footed poor in air low confidence player that joined us!! Secondly SEB will never score in a set up like ours - not enough teasing balls feeding to his feet in the box which is a shame... Oh and I think Green looked accomplished when he came on so no idea where poor marks came from! Sorry that's three points!!

bluelady added 19:00 - Mar 29

RegencyBlue added 19:06 - Mar 29

Cannot believe Wordsworth did not even make the bench. Personally I would have played him with Skuse and left Hyam out but I will obviously get down arrowed for that!

Classic game of two halfs. We were abysmal in the first and could easily have gone in three down. Second half we gave it a good go and on another day would have gone on to win the match. Overall as MM says a draw was a fair result.

KiwiTractor added 19:10 - Mar 29 What sort of message does this send to Wordsworth?
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warktheline added 19:12 - Mar 29

As most of you know, I'm pro-Mick, but very disappointed Wordy didn't start, and not to make the bench.....strange to say the least. Easy to say after the game, but most of us called him to start. Not sure how Mick will play remaining games....if we lose JW, it will get extremely difficult to maintain push. I believe we need to play on the front foot, now on in....But estimate Mick may play nip and tuck. He's got us thus far, so I will back him all the way. If we do lose the wee man, then without doubt Wordy has to play to create chances. Losing McGoldrick was a big blow....that's no disrespect to Murphy, for he's worked his socks off for the team.

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:14 - Mar 29

I really do despair sometimes on this site.
After the last few years we have endured , here we are with seven games to go and in with a genuine chance of the play-offs, much against most peoples expectations (including mine).
We have just taken seven points out of nine against our main rivals and yet still people come on and have to whine!!
Yes agreed on paper we have dropped two points today and the first half was poor but MM made good substitutions and the team responded well and in the end were slightly unfortunate not to nick it.
No doubt some will counter with why didnt AW play , but we dont know what would have happened if he had and at the end of the day MM made the call (for valid reasons, that he stated on the radio) and can we just not accept that, cos im pretty sure he knows more about the squad than any of us do.
Two hard away games now and if we can bring home at least three points form them we will still be in with a real shout.
Lets try and be a bit more positive shall we.
COYB

bushbaby7 added 19:15 - Mar 29 If we started with the team that finished, 3 points in the bag! Can't really complain tho, 7 points from the last 3 games is awesome considering the opponents. Keep it up please lads! Must say I've been critical of Nouble's ability in the past, wow what a player he's turned into over the last few weeks! I want some of what he's taking!!
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alexsmith111 added 19:23 - Mar 29

Huge bout of negatives anticipated!! But I believe now may be the time to sell creswell. He had his value, and is not producing what he was before. He was irreplaceable before, he is now easly replaceable for the 5 mil we will / should get. It is refreshing that we can talk about more than one player. We don't have a one man team anymore. I do hope Williams stays until may. Some more MM bosmun specials and I'm sure if not this season we will be top 6 next. Especially when MG is back. But what a season!!

jas0999 added 19:48 - Mar 29

Very disappointed with Micks original team selection. In recent weeks we know:
1. Murphy as a loan striker is too negative and doesn't work
2. Hyam/Skuse in midfield is too negative and doesn't work.
3. Hunt/Anderson have been very poor and out of sorts. It hasn't been working.

So why start with the team he did? First half was poor. Credit Mick for making an early change. Second half was miles better and we deserved at least a point. Nouble yet again changed the game. Second period was entertaining. Such a shame we don't start like that in a home game!

However, 7 out of 9 points is an excellent return from three tough games. Season now hinges on whether Williams stays.

Lord_Mac added 19:50 - Mar 29

Unusually, I'm with the No Camp on the Wordsworth issue - he forced his way into the side and put in two great performances. He's then the man in possession and i a winning team. No way should he have been dropped. The issue was whether to leave out Hyam, or leave Skuse out. There's a case for either. Poor man management I'm afraid

I doubt it would have affected them scoring, but it might have helped us get back on terms earlier in the game.

And the way Forest fell apart when we finally attacked them makes me think that starting this game with the team that finished the Derby game was the way to go. Tactics too negative today.

NoelTheDub added 20:06 - Mar 29 Mick you played it safe today and it backfired,again you gave a struggling team at PR a chance.We should have went for the juggler with 433 attacking them not 2 holding mids and letting them do it to us.Overall well done everyone its great to be involved at this stage even if I dont agree with most of Micks selections.
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Keaneish added 20:36 - Mar 29

Big opportunity missed today. Results went our way again today. I'm asking the same question I've been asking for the last four games win, lose or draw...WhY are we playing one up front??? We pose little threat to teams and we're wasting valuable minutes in games before changing it.

2 points dropped for me today because again we were to negative in the first half.

Still need 4 wins and a draw I reckon...

Keaneish added 20:40 - Mar 29 Oh, and... Terrible attendance...again!! We uses to have 20k and then all the glory hunters. Where have the other 2 or 3k gone!?
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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:59 - Mar 29 Shame we didn,t go for the jugular from the start, a draw a fair reflection of the game overall. Enjoyed our much more positive display 2nd half. If JW,s loan is extended, we have half a chance of 6th spot, he really is different class.
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stokeholyted added 21:15 - Mar 29 We have a new player to be Frank. Keep the faith.
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ITFCRealist added 22:09 - Mar 29 At least the pints were good. Apart from that a better manager would have picked the right team and won the game. Mick out
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DerryfromBury added 22:27 - Mar 29 2 points dropped. Who would have believed it a few months ago, Big Frank MoM.
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Tonyitfc82 added 22:28 - Mar 29

Typical of ITFC really. Can never predict us.
I had us written off for the Brighton and Derby game but you all know what happened there.
Today I really thought we will win but......
Frank has been unplayable the last couple of games I have seen him. He is like a new sighning for us.

Overall a very good season so far.
Playoffs are there for the taking in my opinion.

itfchorry added 00:08 - Mar 30 We want you to stay----We want you to stay-------- Franky Nouble ---,we want you to stay
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BlueSwede added 09:23 - Mar 30 I for one am very pleased with seven points in one week against teams above us in the table. If anyone had offered me that last Saturday I would have taken it without hesitation. As for Wordsworth, I think it's interesting to see that everyone here knows so much about what has been said between him and MM and how Wordsworth feels about it...
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 10:24 - Mar 30

Do we not learn anything on here?
1. All the abuse Frank Nouble has got on here (never from me because it was clear he was a young player trying his heart out) and now suddenly he's fine, he's put in a couple of performances. Perhaps MM and TC DO know what they are doing and could see what all of the abusive posters could not. Maybe we shouldn't be so negative about our own players.
2. When DM got injured everyone wrote the team and season off saying we couldn't even make the top half but here we are 2 off the playoffs. Maybe we should have a bit more faith.
3. Wordsworth played 3 hours of competitive football from nowhere and MM made it quite clear after the game that he didn't think he'd be 100% fit to start the match and once that decision was made, if he was a bit stiff he didn't think he'd have much impact off the bench. Simple squad management, MM knows what he's doing let's back him and not argue over every team selection, there's more to management than picking the 11 on a Saturday morning.