Nottingham Forest 2 Town 1

Jan 2 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN fell victim to an inspired stoppage-time strike as Forest were let off the hook for the second time this season.

Back in October, there were extenuating circumstances at the Galpharm as Colin Calderwood’s side hit back for a 1-1 draw after Danny Cadamarteri was red carded.

But yesterday the boot was on the other foot and there were no excuses for failing to collect all three points against a Forest side reduced to 10 men by the 37th-minute dismissal of Kelvin Wilson.

The right-back was sent off for pulling back Malvin Kamara as he bore down on goal after being freed by Andy Holdsworth.

The decision went down like a lead balloon with Forest fans in an 18,762 crowd (920 Town supporters), but Greater Manchester referee Anthony Taylor was well positioned and contact certainly appeared to be made.

Phil Jevons comfortably beat Paul Smith with Town’s first penalty of the season, and it should really have been plain sailing for Andy Ritchie’s side.

But for the second match in a row, a lead was turned into a defeat as Town spurned a series of chances, and tossed their opponents a lifeline.

Andy Booth was unable to get clean connection to Jevons’ 49th-minute cross, allowing the scrambling Smith to save.

Then substitute Danny Schofield – on for the unfortunate Jon Worthington, who had a fine first half but tweaked his hamstring just before the break – had a drive from Booth’s 54th-minute lay-off blocked.

Booth’s header on the hour flew right across the face of Smith’s goal, then in the 63rd minute, the former Southampton stopper parried as Schofield, again set up by Booth, tried to lift the ball over him from eight yards out.

Almost everyone in the ground knew Town should have been two up, and Forest, for whom Grant Holt had shot wastefully over from close range in the 58th minute, made the most of their let-off.

Chris Cohen had been on the pitch for only three minutes when, with 67 on the clock, he took possession from the impressive Lewis McGugan and drilled in a shot which took a big deflection off David Mirfin and flew past the wrongfooted Matt Glennon.

Forest’s Kris Commons blasted over from a good position and Junior Agogo drove wide from the edge of the area, but Town were still creating, and were desperately unlucky not to go back in front on 74 minutes.

Smith seemed to know nothing about Robbie Williams’ rasping 40-yard left-foot drive, but the ball smacked against the base of his right-hand post and back into play, its speed deceiving Booth as he tried to strike a follow-up shot.

Nathan Clarke headed wide from Michael Collins’ 80th-minute corner, then with a minute of normal time remaining, Booth’s shot on the turn from substitute Chris Brandon’s cross was held by Smith.

At the other end, Glennon made a fine two-handed block from Agogo, who had given Frank Sinclair (playing at right-back) the slip.

Then Town survived a penalty appeal when McGugan went tumbling under a challenge from Schofield.

But that let-off was made academic when a minute into the four added on, Sammy Clingan picked out McGugan, who turned marker Joe Skarz before firing into the roof of Glennon’s net.

Skarz had been brought on for Jevons on 76 minutes to try and bolster a five-man midfield, and what a shame Town couldn’t have come away from the City Ground with at least a point.

Adopting the same gameplan which brought victory at Swansea in November, they had held their own in the first half, with the five-man central unit of Kamara, Collins, Worthington, Holdsworth and Jevons working hard to close Forest down.

Forest skipper Ian Breckin had a 15th-minute glancing header well held by Glennon while Holt headed over from Agogo’s cross.

But Town also had their moments, with Booth heading over in the eighth minute, Williams testing Smith with a low free-kick in the 19th and, after Jevons had struck from the spot, Booth bringing another good save from the keeper with a 37th-minute shot on the turn.

Hopes were high at the break, but Town were to self-destruct again.