Nottingham Forest 1 – 3 Birmingham City
Despite some initial misgivings, for seventy minutes today we looked like a football team. Not a great one, but one with decent players, who knew what they were doing. That was for seventy minutes …
I was really worried about Chambers at right back but fair play to him – he did an OK job. Brum didn’t really get any significant chances in the first half – so the entire defence did well; and the Moose was having one of his good days. Lewis put in a good corner for the goal, Tudgay was working hard, Miller was being Miller and Radi was making things happen. So no complaints at all.
But in the second half it all went wrong … after about seventy minutes, the balance of the team was changed. Radi was selfish and missed a chance when he could have laid it off for Miller to score. A few minutes later he was hauled off and replaced by Greening. Prompting questions from us – questions such as “why?”. Miller then looked injured and was replaced by Findlay. And suddenly Brum had a spell of possession, we failed to clear and they had scored.
When this happen, the team just fell apart, conceding two more in quick succession, after being comfortable for most of the game. This is what happens to teams that are going to be relegated.
Summary: things are bad. Really really bad.
Update (2/10/11, 7pm): Nigel Doughty has said to Radio Nottingham that Steve McClaren is still the manager, but “you will have to speak to Steve himself about it” (not a direct quote). I guess that means that he has gone, but they need to sort out the legals…
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Comments
Greening for Radi was a. Error, but understandable (Jesus is supposedly more defensive).
But use last sub chance on Gunter for Hill when chasing 2-1with 10 to play?? This was the tactical blunder of England proportions!
The fat lady has cleared her throat. The bell has rung at the last chance saloon. Schteve is TOASHT