Nottingham
Forest

Bolton Wanderers

A quote by Darren Fletcher on Century 106 I think sums up Forest's dismal performance at Bolton yesterday.

(the Forest players) "couldn't hit a cows backside with a banjo!

Forest boss David Platt said:
"Obviously I am disappointed, especially with the first half. "We were confident of victory once we got our noses in front but for some strange reason we let Bolton back in. I thought we deserved a draw. "The two open-play goals were poor from our point of view but all credit to Bolton for a late comeback. "I was never worried about Bolton's situation or any knock-on effect there might have been. "Before the game I was concentrating on our lack of consistency and it was there again for all to see. Now we have to regroup and start again on Monday. "My job is to try and find out why we are having such poor starts and try and put my finger on the problem that is threatening to cost us promotion."

Cox revives Reebok roar

Neil Ashton Sunday Express

A stunning injury-time winner by Bolton skipper Neil Cox lifted the gloom at the Reebok Stadium and handed the managerless club their first win for over a month. The struggling Trotters looked to be on their way to their fourth loss of the season after second-half goals from Dougie Freedman and Ian Wright put Nottingham Forest in command. But Dean Holdsworth's equaliser from the penalty spot - after Ricardo Gardner had put them into a first-half lead - and Cox's 90th-minute winner was enough to secure all three points. Bolton are still reeling from the loss of manager Colin Todd, who resigned in midweek, and the transfer of Danish international midfielder Per Frandsen to Blackburn for £1.75 million. But the day started well for Todd's assistant, Phil Brown, who has taken over team affairs.
Chances fell to Bolton early on and Michael Johansen, with a header and volley, twice came close to netting. Bolton finally took the lead after 32 minutes when Cox's teasing cross was met in the six-yard box by Gardner who slid in ahead of Forest defenders Salvatore Matrecano and Riccardo Scimeca to nose Bolton in front. Forest rarely threatened in a one-sided first half, but it was ex-Arsenal legend Wright who produced their one moment of magic. He latched on to Nigel Quashie's ball before swivelling and sending an impudent chip over Bolton keeper Keith Branagan, but the ball only shaved the crossbar.
However, Forest were galvanised after the break and equalised within two minutes of the restart. Alan Rogers' cross from the left was not dealt with by the Wanderers defence and Freedman rolled the ball into an empty net. Three minutes later Forest went in front when Cox upended Rogers inside the box and Wright sent Branagan the wrong way for his third Forest goal. But Bolton rallied and levelled the scores after 65 minutes with a penalty of their own. Quashie brought down striker Eidur Gudjohnsen inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Ex-Wimbledon striker Holdsworth stepped up to crash the ball past Dave Beasant, another former Dons player. >From then on there was only going to be one winner, and Gudjohnsen missed two chances of his own before Cox took advantage of some woeful defending by Forest to cash in at the far post and seal the points for Bolton.