Cohen: Forest players 'devastated'
CHRIS Cohen said the Nottingham Forest players were devastated to lose to local rivals Derby County – and miss out on an FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
But, after throwing away a two-goal advantage in last night's fourth round replay to lose 3-2, he said it was imperative to pick themselves up for the league encounter with QPR on Saturday.
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Chris Cohen and Kris Commons at the final whistle
Cohen put Forest ahead after only one minute at the City Ground before Nathan Tyson added a second shortly afterwards from the penalty spot after being bought down by goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.
And midfielder Cohen said: "Obviously we are devastated to lose after such a fantastic start. We deserved to go 2-0 up and should have run away with it.
"We think their keeper should have been sent off so we are disappointed with that. In the second half, we probably were not good enough but we lost to a deflected goal and we had some great chances.
"That little bit of luck for either Garath [McCleary], [Mark] Byrne or Wes [Morgan] at the end and we get a 3-3 draw. We are the younger team and probably go on and win it.
"We are disappointed as Manchester United would have been a great game to play in but not an important game for us, that is the way we have to look at it now. The league is important.
"We are bitterly disappointed and we put everything into it, felt we had enough chances to win it but we let them back in with a goal just before half-time."
Cohen was pleased to get on the scoresheet in front of a sell-out City Ground crowd but said it means nothing after it ended in defeat.
"It was great movement by Matt Thornhill and Garath from the corner and I was meant to cross it but the midfielder was too close so I took a touch and then there was only one option, to shoot.
"It took a nick off someone and went in but it does not matter now. I would rather have had an absolute stinker and won 1-0 than scored and lost."
Forest's squad is heavily depleted by injuries, leaving them with little option but to put young and inexperienced players in their 16-man squad.
But Cohen insists that is bringing everyone together to fight the cause to stay in the Championship.
"We are galvanised by it," he added.
"It would be nice to have some more bodies in there. I think the quality is already there for all to see but maybe we need a few more bodies because of the injuries.
"We know we have a squad good enough to get us out of trouble and this game is one of those things we have to put in the past now."
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by Ady, Nottingham
Thursday, February 05 2009, 10:09PM
“Next time chris next time!”
by Womble, California, USA
Thursday, February 05 2009, 9:19PM
“BEN - the only pies in Nottingham are Pork Pies ;)
Answer me this..... on a Saturday how do the fans know when the Nott's match has finished and the Rugby started?
They both play the same way HHAHAHAHHAHHAA :)”
by Control room, NEP
Thursday, February 05 2009, 5:05PM
“Ben_ did you not know this is the NEP website and we don't mention that tiny little club that play in black & white as no one is interested & it does not sell papers, you strike me as the sort of little yob who would get into trouble in foreign coutries with authorities, have a big silly noggin & poo yourself on nights out.”
by MC, Up the duff
Thursday, February 05 2009, 2:57PM
“Ben, did you go to Fernwood by any chance? Daniel says you did ;-)”
by binners, Sitting Pretty
Thursday, February 05 2009, 2:12PM
“With regards to your comment John if you want to talk about administrating laws of the game cast ur mind back to the league game at pride park when a certain Mr Atwell failed to do it on 3 occasions and yes that does include the harsh red card your player received they say things even themselves out and last night went someway to doing that nuff said”