Forest 2 QPR 2 – Reds made to jump through hoops

By: Tim | February 11th, 2009

Fortunately Tyson will be back this Saturday... After last week’s shenanigans at the City Ground, or lack of them, we desperately needed a good home result to boost our confidence and consolidate our league position. We couldn’t have started any worse really, Tyson had to go off after 15 minutes with a nasty gash above his eye (replaced by Adam Newbold) and that was followed by two goal-line clearances from Di Carmine and Alberti chances.

Either side of half-time there was a flurry of activity, with QPR winger Matteo Alberti at the heart of it all. First of all the young Italian brought Chambers down for a penalty in front of the Trent End, given Camp’s record at saving penalties the atmosphere was pretty tense, fortunately McGugan stepped right up to the plate and sent him the wrong way. Less than a few minutes later and Alberti had equalised at the other end, somehow managing to send a low shot past McGugan and Smudge’s outstretched arm.

Shortly after the break Alberti had bagged a brace, he did well to hold off a challenge from Brendan Moloney for what seemed like eternity, before unleashing a volley in to the opposite corner of the net. The Hoops could so easily have made it 3-1 too, lucky for us Wayne Routledge didn’t bring his shooting boots with him, after a neat piece of skill saw him beat Heath he somehow contrived to fire wide.

Luck was on our side. Just after Garner was taken off Chambers darted down the right wing, latching on to a great through ball from Big Wes he sent a looping cross high over the 6 yard box that was met by the head of the relentlessly hard-working Cohen – his header went back across the box and in to the net to level the scores at 2-2. Camp claimed he was fouled after the match, and it did look suspect, but hey, who I am to argue? Highlights are free to view here.

Davies was effusive in his praise after the match: ‘How can I fault these players today? They were magnificent. They showed commitment to come back from 2-1 down and the work rate was second to none. We are playing against clubs that are spending vast amounts of money and we’re matching them back to front. I’m absolutely delighted’.

Unfortunately there are no new signings on the horizon, the good news is that we could get some players back in time for this Saturday’s away match at St Andrew’s. Tyson is almost certainly going to be ok, Perch stands a good chance too, and hopefully Earnshaw will make it as well. On top of this, word on the messageboards, and in the NEP, is that Moussi is back in training. If this were true then it would certainly bolster our midfield options, he has been out that long it’ll feel like a new signing, although he must be a long way off match fitness.

Lastly, The Sun recently reported on Big Wes’s son, Rio. The nine-month-old is currently in intensive care at Leicester hospital due to a bout of pneumonia, and Wes has been practically living there to be by his side. I’m sure I speak for every Forest fan, or any other fan for that matter, in wishing Rio and the Morgan’s all the best.