(Tudgay, Earnshaw & McKenna : Oakley, Vassell)
Leccy Board Championship : 22/04/2011
City Ground, Nottingham (already visited)
Football Manager always asks on those annoying press conferences before a derby game. 'Do you believe the competition is richer for games like this?' It's a daft question, Football full stop prides itself on the occasion of a derby game whether it takes place in the second tier of English football, the top tier of Brazil or the fourth tier of Outer Mongolia. They do now hold some extra importance in England, they are one of the few games left in the calendar which have some atmospheric bite.
For us Leicester fans, this brings around the well done debate about which team have more appliance to us as a derby. Well this derby is mine, the comparisons between Nottingham and Leicester as a city I see as not too different. In addition, Nottingham Forest are the most successful team of the East Midlands thanks to two European Cup wins (which we always hear plenty about). Forest dismiss us, it's Derby for them and only Derby apparently. Well I disagree, there's more than enough passion showcased by the Reds when Leicester come to town.
It's further recognised by myself that the City Ground is probably the best stadium or awayday in the East Midlands. It's not the best looking, in fact it's rather tight for legroom and in the concourses but it's location is the most recognisable in the division with the ground overlooking the Trent river where the City of Nottingham meets it's suburb of West Bridgford. There's plenty nearby and the train station is just fifteen minutes walk away.
Finally, the most personal reason for Forest, they brought around a very low point for me as City fan. I was scarred by a last minute equaliser there during our administration season. We were declared into admin the week before, job cuts made the day before the game, City were cruising at 2-0 at Half-Time but then proceeded to throw it away in the most cruel of fashions when Jack Lester bagged a 96th minute equaliser. Their reaction that day suggested to me this game meant something.
We gained revenge later in the season, a hero was made of Tommy Wright as what can only happen to hometown players. A two-yard tap-in of a winner for which he successfully made the rest of Leicester career from. Kept on for far too long, he now plays for Darlington.
This is what derbies do though. They make heroes. For Leicester fans, a player bagging a winner at City Ground would make more than a hero. Having not won in the league here for over forty years and in process destroying Forest's play-off dreams.
It's been a while since the game. So no OTT match report, I am trying to keep it minimal. It was a scrappy game typical of a derby and given the position in the table of both teams, neither wanted to lose. This was mostly caused by Leicester City's tactics. I have previously mentioned the problem Sven tactically faces where City appear too open to a pacy attack. This even more of a problem facing a side of 4-4-2 as they cover the possession game City play easier and one poor pass leads to an opening.
So with in mind, it was no surprise to see Ben Mee back in for Van Aanholt. The largely clueless Bruma kept his spot much to my dismay (typically gone onto score two wonderstrikes since). City played a lot deeper than recent games in much the same fashion as QPR away. Forest's formation is similar to QPR's, a narrow 4-4-2. The players on the flanks tuck in to allow the full-backs the wings. Forest should have the same problem as City but they have the comfort of both McKenna and Moussi sitting in.
Given the energy sapping weather (I lost three pounds alone standing in the Bridgford End), neither side chased the ball which disgruntled the 'Up and at them!' crew. It was stalemate tactically, as mistakes were the difference. Mistakes largely from goalkeepers.
Forest's first was a showcase of City's downfall this season: Marking. A cross far too easily allowed into the box met by the always scoring against Leicester, Marcus Tudgay with the normally dependable Miguel Vitor disappearing from his man. The first equaliser probably one of my favourite celebrations of the season, could have been saved by the over applauded Camp but fair play for Oakley in producing a ping.
Forest's second, City other problem. Goalkeeping. Lewis McGugan's shot weakly palmed back towards goal where Earnshaw whose made a career of lurking in this area, taps in. Camp then let us back in the game, virtually a minute after going down dropping a Naughton cross at the feet of Vassell.
City were the better side at this point. Vassell coming on for an ineffective Yakubu led to more urgency upfront and by simply cutting down Morgan and Chambers, the ball was staying down towards the Trent End far more often. Yakubu to me looks completely fucked, there was one point where he was half put through but then caught up by the defender and his shot was about as weak as my piss. Typically like Oakley and Bruma, my criticism has a midst touch. Kamara's more of a disappointment, he looked hungry on arrival but now a disinterested individiual who could have quite easily been sent off in this game.
The winner did come. McKenna's powerpuff volley squeezing under Weale's body. A shattered away end watched on and the players mirrored the feeling. There's our villain, no hero today. Sadly, that's probably ten points the likeable Weale has cost us this season and he's proved the catalyst for Forest saving their season. However, for us it's now a rarity of a season in recent years, a dead end.
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