Perchigol strikes during momentous week for Forest

By: Tim | April 24th, 2009

Captain fantastic with his third, and most important, goal of the season What a week for Forest fans, probably the most important week of the season so far, and I’m pleased to say that most of it went our way.

It all started before last Saturday’s match against Coventry when Davies asked the Forest faithful to make the City Ground ‘like a cauldron’. We did register our second highest attendance of the season (27,856), which is pleasing to see, but judging by the sounds coming from the stands I’d say it was more like ‘squeaky bum time’ than a cauldron. The first half was tense; you could see that the players were nervous with plenty of over hit passes and free-kicks going astray.

Still, Chambers managed to hit the bar in the first period, and although Coventry had a few corners and free-kicks they never really looked like scoring. McCleary came on for Anderson after the break, and the super-sub (with 24 appearances) made an immediate difference, we started attacking Coventry at pace and within a minute Blackstock had laid off a great ball to Perch, the captain’s placed shot was his third goal of the season. After that it was a case of hanging on, Isaiah Osbourne was a rock in midfield for us, his headed clearances and assured passing got us out of trouble a few times, and Gunter is starting to look at ease too, despite shifting wings after being asked to play right back for the day.

You can watch the highlights here, in truth it was a poor match really, with two shots on target each, but boy was it a valuable three points. Southampton lost 2-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, so we went five points clear of them, although they are definitely relegated after the Football League finally imposed the 10-point deduction yesterday.

Lord Mawhinney, the Football League chairman, said they had ‘no choice’ but to impose the penalty after forensic accountants advised that the holding company, the stadium company and the club are ‘inextricably linked as one economic entity’. The Saints are going to appeal, on the grounds that the Football League have ‘stretched the rules to suit their purpose when the club isn’t in breach’, but the situation seems bleak for them now – if they somehow manage to stay up this season then the points deduction will apply this season, meaning they will be relegated anyway, but if they are relegated ‘naturally’ then the deduction will apply next season.

They’ve got Burnley at home tomorrow, the Clarets still have something to play for too, so it could be a close game, but you’d expect an away win there. It’s a decisive weekend – Norwich, who lost the East Anglian derby last Sunday, play Reading at home on Monday, if they lose and we manage to get a draw or a win against Blackpool tomorrow (in the early game), then we’re safe. Barnsley, who could only manage a draw against Coventry in their game in hand, play Wolves tomorrow, which could be an interesting one too, given that the Wanderers are already promoted.

The good news is that we’ve got both Earnshaw and Tyson back for tomorrow’s trip to Bloomfield Road, Joel Lynch could be back in the side too, after missing two games due to personal problems. As Billy says, it’s in our hands, we can’t rely on anyone else doing us a favour, but maybe, if results go our way, we can all rest a little easier on Monday night.