Billy's Nottingham Forest are full of fight
THE return of Billy Davies has left Nottingham Forest players believing that there is still plenty to fight for this season, says Simon Cox.
But the striker is also convinced that, even if the Reds don't secure a top-six finish this season, they will be a force to be reckoned with after the manager has a chance to stamp his influence on the squad this summer.
-
Davies' unbeaten start since returning to the City Ground continued last night, as a late goal from Lewis McGugan helped them to a 1-0 win over Ipswich, who ended the match with nine players after having two players sent off.
And Cox says there is still plenty to play for in the remaining matches, with Forest finally fulfilling their potential in the last few weeks.
NHS VOUCHERS FOR WIGS ARE ACCEPTED AT BEAUTY SPOT COSMETICS
Beauty Spot Cosmetics Nottingham
View detailsNHS VOUCHERS FOR WIGS ARE ACCEPTED AT BEAUTY SPOT COSMETICS
Terms: BRING YOUR VOUCHER IN STORE
Contact: 0115 8962300
Valid until: Saturday, December 07 2013
"The season is not over yet," he said. "If it was to finish now and we were not in the play-offs, with the changes in manager we have had, with the turnaround we have had in backroom staff and with the hierarchy, yes, you might say that we had still possibly underachieved.
"But it is not finished and, under this manager, under this regime and with the confidence we have got... let's see where we are at the end of the season.
"If we don't make the play-offs, we will go again next season and next season will be completely different because we will have a settled manager, he will bring in his players over the summer and we will be a force.
"If we don't do it this year, we will be a force next year. We believe that."
Cox says Forest must remain focused on continuing the improvement they have shown over the past month or so.
"We have as much chance as anyone who is outside of the play-off positions at the minute, when you look at the way we are playing," he said. "But we need to keep our feet on the ground, we just need to go about our business quietly and see where we finish at the end of the day."
Last night's result extended Forest's unbeaten run to five games. But, while Cox hopes they can extend that form for as long as possible, he says it is important the squad realise it is not the end of the world if they do suffer a slip-up between now and the end of the campaign.
"The likelihood is that we will not go from now until the end of the season unbeaten," said Cox, who produced a man-of-the-match performance last night in the narrow win. "We still have to play Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Burnley, Hull – we have to play some big teams who will be a big test for us.
"We are not naive enough to think that we are going to go unbeaten entirely, through to the end of the season.
"But it is about putting in performances; about keeping a run going for as long as we can – but if we lose a game or two along the way, we cannot be downhearted about it. If it happens, we just have to move on to the next game and focus on performing again."
34 Comments
View all
by flipflopper
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:39AM
“Psych66, unless Henderson has a record of violent behaviour, there is very little chance of him going down. There are far worse crimes being committed where the accused gets nowhere near what he deserves, If Henderson had not been a minor celebrity the crown prosecution service would have thrown it out. It's not that I'm condoning what he as done, I'm just saying it as it is.”
by plainsman
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:35AM
“Kodakid Forest staff making a fuss of Luke Chambers? Maybe they were just showing a bit of common courtesy to a loyal servant of the club who made 205 appearances and scored 21 goals in 5 years. He was also voted Player of the Year 2010/11. Alright, making him Captain didn't work and he had a poor final season but let's show the guy a bit of respect. Did anyone actually think WHY they were booing him on Tuesday?”
by desnffc
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:21AM
“@ kodakid
Yes pal I saw it thing is chambers isn't better than what we have even Collins is reformed under Billy and chambo certainly ain't half as good as young Lascelles we also have Hutch and Ayala coming back so we dont need him plus i dont want him back dont know bout you lot, never really liked Ipswich either after we were relegated from the prem in our first season sir Brian's last season as a red we took nearly 10,000 down there and lost 1 nil to a for 10 brownie pts who can tell me who scored the goal??......
Yooooooooooooooooooou reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeds”
by Psycho66
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:09AM
“It seems a contract until the end of the season for Darius will not match the contract HM Prison are going to offer him.”
by foxbat
Thursday, March 07 2013, 7:05AM
“ohiored-
I take your point. We'd be nicely in the top 6 had Billy joined when McLeish did. Where would be be if he'd been with us all season ? Also, just out of intetest, I'd like to know when 'first contact's with Billy was made. Anyone know ?”
by kodakid
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:44PM
“Did anyone else see the Forest staff making a fuss of Chambers as the players trundled off the pitch on Tuesday night.What chance of him coming back to the City Ground?”
by knawrybred
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:06PM
“Day one of Hendersons court case, Football player pleads not guilty to attack in Darcy's Restaurant, St Albans
5:50pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Court Reporter
A football player pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, after a man was injured in a St Albans restaurant, a jury heard today.
Former Watford FC player Darius Henderson, 31, of Green Lane, Markyate, and his girlfriend were confronted during a New Year's Eve celebration at Darcy's Restaurant in St Albans by a woman who repeatedly claimed she had recently had sex with him.
When a Good Samaritan tried to calm the situation down the Nottingham Forest striker threw two punches and knocked him to the floor, causing a fracture of his cheek bone and a cut to his eye socket, it was alleged.
St Albans Crown Court heard that a pleasant night out for the footballer and his girlfriend Lucy Caplan turned sour when they were confronted by a woman called Hazel Kent.
In front of Ms Caplan, Ms Kent is alleged to have described Mr Henderson's home and to have correctly identified the brand of his boxer shorts.
Prosecutor Alan Richards said Mr Henderson and his girlfriend ate together in the restaurant and then went through to the bar at about 9pm for after dinner drinks to see the New Year in.
The victim, John Bell, was also in the restaurant with his partner John Lavelle and two female friends. They shared a table in the restaurant and eventually went through to the bar for after dinner drinks at around 11pm.
Mr Richards said: "The two groups had little contact with each other before that, although it seems Mr Bell spoke to Miss Caplan outside the restaurant at some point. Everything was perfectly convivial between them, in fact it seems Miss Caplan kindly provided Mr Bell with a cigarette at his request.
"In fact none of the parties I have introduced so far were responsible for sewing the seeds of tension that night. Another person, Hazel Kent, was present in the restaurant. She was unknown to the two groups I have described.
"For reasons best known to herself she behaved somewhat unpleasantly towards Mr Henderson and Miss Caplan, asserting on more than one occasion, in Miss Caplan's presence, that she had recently had sex with Mr Henderson.
"There is no reason to believe that this was anything other than pure fiction, but Ms Kent persisted. She asserted that she could describe Mr Henderson's home to establish the truth of her assertions. It seems she may have correctly identified the brand of his boxer shorts.
"Understandably, perhaps, this upset Miss Caplan and caused some tension between her and Mr Henderson. Equally understandably, Mr Henderson was keen that Ms Kent should leave him and Miss Caplan alone."
After a member of the bar staff, Jack Oakley, tried to calm down Ms Kent and get her away from the footballer, CCTV evidence is said to show that at around 1.30am Mr Bell talked to Mr Henderson at the bar. Mr Oakley believed Mr Bell was acting as a Good Samaritan and tried to calm things down.
But Mr Richards said: "Neither Mr Bell nor Mr Henderson were connected with Ms Kent but it is possible that his intervention caused Mr Henderson, who the court say was upset and angered by her behaviour, to perceive Mr Bell as somehow associated with her.
"What is absolutely clear is that Mr Bell posed no threat to Mr Henderson whatsoever. Even if his intervention was unwelcome it could not even begin to justify what Mr Henderson then did.
"He punched Mr Bell in the head twice. It is unclear whether the first blow actually connected with Mr Bell, but the second certainly did. Mr Bell was knocked to the floor."
Police and an ambulance were called. Mr Henderson left and was arrested near the restaurant a short while later.”
by ohiored
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:15PM
“Billy has us back where we were when SOD got the elbow. Same squad of players that McLeish had, only difference is that BD knows how to get the best out of them.
Question is, where could we have been if Billy had been appointed instead of McLeish?
Thoughts, anyone?
FTID.”
by Stoney0191
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:11PM
“Crispy bloke ,, your a complete mong”
by desnffc
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 8:38PM
“@ lcfc......watever
Very scrappy win for us last night but what you should be worrying about sunshine is the mighty forest are creeping up on your little outfit 4 pts behind you now, I said week's ago it may go down to the last game of the season and we will beat you and leapfrog you into 6th place thus messing your chances up keep that in mind pal
Yooooooooooooooooooour gonna blow it again LOL”