Forest striker Blackstock: We still have so much to learn
DEXTER Blackstock today insisted Nottingham Forest are still learning how to be a consistently successful side in the Championship.
The Reds striker netted a vital goal to earn Billy Davies' side a point from a 1-1 draw with Leeds at the City Ground, following a game they could easily have won in the first 20 minutes.
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Dexter Blackstock celebrates
Rampant Forest could have been 3-0 up early on, but had only Blackstock's header to show for a spell of complete domination, before Leeds changed their formation and fought their way back into the game.
And Blackstock admits that Forest are still learning how to deal with such situations.
"We are a young side, we are learning all the time," he said.
"If things are not going for us in certain games, we will have to adapt, to different formations and approaches.
"We have to keep learning as a side and I don't just mean the young players.
"I am sure even Paul McKenna is still learning things now, with every game.
"We are all learning and we have the right staff to help us with that.
"We are producing positive performances. We will soon pick up more positive results.
"It is no secret that, if it is an open game at the City Ground, we will cause teams problems. We can tear teams apart.
"So teams are not going to come here and let us play an open game of football.
"As you saw against Leeds – they could not let the game go on like that, because they could not get near to us.
"They saw what was happening and they changed things. We will have to cope with that this season.
"We still had a strong spell in the game; we could still have been three or four goals to the good before they got themselves sorted out.
"We will take the point and we will take the positives from the result."
Blackstock concedes it was disappointing not to win the game, however, following that remarkable opening spell. He said: "We are disappointed to only get a point because, in that first half hour, we played some of the best football I have seen since I have been at the club.
"We dominated thoroughly and kept the ball so well.
" I think if Earnie's chance had gone in, the game would have been dead and buried.
"But then Leeds changed their formation and we found it hard to come to terms with it."
Blackstock was pleased with his first goal of the season.
"It was a great ball in by Chris Gunter and I managed to get a flick on it to put it into the bottom corner," he said.
"It was a great start for us. It was just at the end of the first half and in the second when we struggled to keep our foothold on the game.
"It was scrappy, it was very stop start with a few injuries and a few incidents of handbags."
5 Comments
by Posh Red, Peterborough
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 2:24PM
“Phil,
This thread's probably about done now but I just wanted to thank you for a great post.”
by Phil Poole, Sutton in Ashfield
Monday, August 16 2010, 4:22PM
“Thanks Micky and yes we did look like we could be a bit special during that opening spell. Let¿s hope that they are still applying what they learn about themselves. Also like you I have a lot of faith in Billy to deliver us to the higher echelons, where we all believe we belong. Won¿t it be great to see the big teams once again entertaining us at the City Ground? The memories of division three will hopefully be eradicated for ever.”
by mickydooflop, mistysideofthetrent
Monday, August 16 2010, 2:00PM
“Philip;
Very good assesment!
How-ever I am not too worried as yet, due to the fact that I feel we have started where we left-off from last season!
We are making cracking chances & ripping teams apart at times, It wont be long b4 those nearly goals become cracking goals!
Ernie has hit post & bar - Blackstock has missed a couple of (for him) easy goals, & Tyson has left defenders for dead but has been woeful In his finnishing.
No I see no reason to worry! what Is needed Is a Peter Whittingham some-one with a ruthless streak In him to compliment what Is I feel, a top class strike force & one which would get Into any of the current Championship sides!
I hear that Craig Bellamy Is training at Cardifs ground? should he decide to go to them then maybe Whitt's will be released to us!
In "KING BILLY" we trust! U REDS! U REDS!”
by Philip Poole, Sutton in Ashfield
Monday, August 16 2010, 8:50AM
“Sorry It sould read "hold off" not "hold of"”
by Philip Poole, Sutton in Ashfield
Monday, August 16 2010, 8:47AM
“Forest have to remember that a game lasts ninety minutes not thirty five. As good as we were in that first period, we were as poor for the rest of the game.
Yes initially the play was fast, furious and very good but we blew up after that and became second best. Leeds did not look a bad side but we made them appear to be far better than they currently are. Leeds will survive this season if they continue to fight like that but I am not really interested in them, it is the Reds that concern me. If we can not play for ninety minutes we will not get promotion and we must start to convert chances into goals. Our two strikers are not having enough shots on target and Raddy seems to shoot over when the strikers are waiting in good positions. Good as Raddy's goals were last season, he is not a striker and generally the goalkeeper will have his long range shots well covered but first he has to get them on target. His main task, like Chris Cohen is to feed the strikers as they have more skill at putting the ball in the back of the net. Football is a team game and we must remember that. This thirty five minutes assault on goal will only we work if we can get two or more goals on that time. One goal will generally not be enough as we will not have the energy left to hold of the opponents for the rest of the game. Under the Billy Davis style of play, which I am not knocking, it is a game of two halves and we need to capitalise in the first half, because we are too knackered in the second to keep the opposition from taking control.”