Notts Forest 2, Huddersfield Town 1

Aug 8 2005 By Mel Booth, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

FOREST fans applauded Town's team bus through the exit gates of the City Ground in a show of admiration and relief.

Used to the high life over the last 30 years or so, they recognised a quality display by Peter Jackson's men which undoubtedly deserved a share of the spoils.

Indeed, there was much to celebrate in Town's performance and the fact that 3,542 travelling fans had made a magnificent contribution to a Championship-style atmosphere.

The haunting pain of the defeat, therefore, comes in the realisation that Town's Achilles heel from last season - conceding costly late goals - dogged them in each half of an otherwise encouraging first match of the campaign.

Jackson's squad talked through that very aspect both after the match and in yesterday's training session in preparation for the visits this week of Bristol City and Swansea to the Galpharm.

The manager knows a harder edge at vital times is needed to turn these narrow defeats into draws and possibly wins - and his demeanour afterwards suggested he won't rest until he's sorted the problem.

While Town generally played well and had the powerful David Mirfin in rampaging form, it was the ex-Stoke midfielder Kris Commons who proved the architect of Forest's victory.

His clever skills kept Town guessing throughout and it was no surprise he should supply inch-perfect through balls for each of the Forest goals.