I woke up this
morning feeling excited for today's match. It was sunny and Ian
Wright was going to make his debut. Other people obviously had the
same idea looking at the queues for tickets.
My notes of the first 20 minutes are: Ian Wright twisting, turning,
flicking the ball forward to Freedman and finding space. Then, on
29 minutes Scimeca got the ball to Wright in open space left of
the goal and Wrighty doesn't normally miss from there. Forest then
started to lose it yet again in midfield and the frustration of
seeing the forwards not getting the ball began to set in. Petrachi
had a good shot on goal which the keeper only just managed to put
over the net. Just before half time, with the QPR penalty area crowded,
Wright seemed to push the ball over the line for a second goal.
But the QPR defender, Rose, handled the ball and the referee had
no option but to send him off and award Forest a penalty. Surely
a 2-0 lead at half time was going to give Forest a comfortable start
to the second half. But, even with the keeper going the wrong way,
Wright managed to hit the base of the goal post and QPR eventually
cleared the ball away.
The half time whistle went. It was too hot for Bovril today, with
the sun blasting down on the City Ground! But the conversation was
about how many goals Wright might get in the second half.
QPR substituted Kiwomya for Scully and it was obvious that they
were going to pack their defence and hope for a breakaway. A cross
from Wright to Rogers was hit well but saved by the keeper. Rogers
had a nightmare match and this was his best contribution of the
game. Freedman put Palmer through and that was saved. Wright twisted
and turned on the left and put a low, hard cross through to Freedman,
who hit the bar from 10 yds. Wright and Rogers went through two
on two but Rogers was unable to get the ball across to Wright. One
of the best shots of the game came from Petrachi who sent the ball
goalward bound only for it to be cleared safely away by Freedman!!
This was bad luck not bad play on Freedman's part. Then on 70 minutes
QPR had a break and the bleached haired Karl Ready put the ball
past a 'diving' Crossley and they had equalised rather against the
run of play. Freedman was substituted for Marlon. He went off to
applause not, as was mentioned on Century 106 because the crowd
were wanting him off, but because he'd had a relatively good, but
unlucky game.
Then QPR had an attacking spell and it looked for a while that they
might even take the lead. They had two clear chances to score but,
fortunately, they didn't. Forest had one or two late chances to
score and it seemed that we still might score. One shot came from
Wright but it went over. Another from Scimeca to Allou (a late but
popular substitution) to Wright was saved. This was definitely two
points dropped by Forest who, overall, were the better side. Scimeca
and Petrachi had good games and it goes without saying that Wright
was probably the best thing we've seen in the Forest Gaibaldi for
a long time. He went off the pitch looking forlorn and very disappointed.
But, considering that two days ago he had not even thought of playing
for Forest, we cannot have expected any more from him. I look forward
to seeing him score a lot of goals for Forest in the next month
and, hopefully for the rest of the season.
Just for the total anoraks amongst you, Forest had 6 corners, QPR
2. And, what was to me the most earth shattering piece of trivia
I have picked up in a long time is that the stretcher bearers, dressed
in green, are now called 'Ambulance Technicians'. These reports
are only my opinion and yes I do sometimes get some tiny, insignificant
details slightly wrong. Please don't e-mail me to tell me.
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