Cardiff grab a point at Nottingham Forest

Still confident....
By Rogero
September 12 2004

"I'm as good a manager as you're going to get." Is apparently what Lennie Lawrence told Sam after an uninspiring draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Bluebirds are second bottom of the table above Rotherham but Lawrence insisted: "I feel I am the right man for this job, it's just a question of how long it takes to get this show back on the road. "I know I am as well-equipped to do the Cardiff City job as anyone but the question is can I do it in the timescale permitted, which I don't set.

"That was our best performance of the season, which doesn't take too much doing. It was a definite improvement. We defended well, kept our shape and produced a reasonable team performance...........”

Lawrence added "Sam says we'll get four new players and we might but I won't if they're not better than what we've already got.......”

Forest are still without a win and in all fairness the bluebirds escaped from the City Ground with a draw as Nottingham’s forwards gave a lesson on how not to score. David Johnson's late miss in front of an open goal from five yards was a classic.

Throughout the afternoon Forest's approach play was attractive and precise, but David Johnson and Marlon King couldn't finish off the good approach work. Graeme Kavanagh should have given the Bluebirds the lead just after the hour mark against the run of play it has to be said. Andy Campbell and hard working John Robinson opened up a chance for Kanvangh but as is becoming commonplace the City captain fired his shot well over the bar.

Campbell had a poor match and was replaced by Peter Thorne halfway through the second half making his long-awaited comeback from a neck injury.

That Johnson's “miss-of-the-season” contender was probably the highlight of this dreadful match summarises the afternoon. Page’s suicidal backpass got replacement keeper Margetson in a complete mess and Johnson nipped in, rounded the keeper but blasted over an open goal from five yards.. Moments later Page cleverly blocked Johnson, just as the former Ipswich man looked set to pounce after Margetson had tipped King's low cross-shot into his path, in keeping with the match the rebound was blasted over the bar.......

It could be a long season for both clubs. Cardiff City now have two home games next week to look forward to and hopefully get some points on the board. Confidence in the team is low, goals are proving difficult to come by and the league leaders are already pulling away after just 7 games.