Forest 2-0 Millwall - Cracks Papered Over

Colin: Pressure
By The Daily Red
February 9 2008

Forest eventually registered a straightforward victory at home to Millwall on a day that saw “Calderwood Out” chants rise to prominence at the City Ground. Julian Bennett and Luke Chambers scored the goals that provided the points from two second half set pieces.

A bright start from Forest rapidly slowed into a scrappy, disjointed display in which neither side took hold of the game.

Chances were hard to come by in the first half, with debutant Will Hoskins' early chance going closest.

As the ideas dried up, and the long balls returned, sections of the City Ground support turned on under-fire boss Colin Calderwood for the first time.

The drab first half ended with cries of "4-4-2" from the home supporters.

Calderwood delivered, and so did his side.  

Julian Bennett smashed home after a penalty area scramble only minutes after half time, and Luke Chambers doubled the advantage 10 minutes later from another corner.

A third set piece looked to have set Forest on their way to an unlikely rout just moments later, but Wes Morgan was denied by the crossbar.

With the result no longer in doubt the game ended modestly and without incident.

The loudest cheers came from the Millwall supporters as they ironically greeted their first shot on goal in the 90th minute.

Comment

One or two cracks have been papered over, but they are still lying ominously beneath the surface. Forest’s home form this season has been sound, and the performances tolerable.

But the real evil lies in the away games, where Calderwood’s tactics and his squad’s bottle have been found wanting on an alarmingly consistent basis. 

Even today, relegation candidates Millwall found themselves up against the cagey, laborious 4-5-1. 

Commons was, again, dumped on the right wing. Tyson was stranded on the left-hand side of midfield. 

For half the game Forest created nothing and were effortlessly matched by an opposition lacking in both confidence and ability. 

The Daily Red invites any supporter who has seen the majority of this season’s away games to explain why they believe Colin Calderwood is capable of winning promotion with this football club. 

Despite having a squad peppered with some of the league’s finest attacking footballers, we find ourselves treated to inane dross that would offend followers of most amateur clubs. 

Does this sound overly dramatic? Then you obviously weren’t at Luton, Walsall, Swindon, Bournemouth etc etc etc. Perhaps if Calderwood follows the instructions of supporters as he did today (“4-4-2”, the chant of choice) then we will have a fighting chance. But don’t hold your breath. 

In today’s Mirror Colin dismisses the views of ‘fans on the internet who haven’t seen our games’. Take it from somebody who has seen all of your games, Colin, you don’t look anything like capable of taking us out of this division.