Honest O'Driscoll admits Forest got lucky with decisive penalty at Leicester
NOTTINGHAM Forest got lucky for the first time this season at Leicester, admitted manager Sean O'Driscoll.
The Reds boss conceded that his side had benefitted from a dubious penalty as they secured a 2-2 draw at Leicester City on an afternoon when they failed to produce their best.
Simon Cox converted from the spot following what looked to be a fair challenge from Zak Whitbread on Billy Sharp, to help Forest level for a second time after Adlene Guedioura had earlier made it 1-1.
"We were definitely fortunate. You try to be honest with your opinions, whether you win, lose or draw – and we got out of jail, we were lucky," said O'Driscoll.
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"It is just my opinion. If it was given against my team I would tell you the same thing – I did not think it was a penalty.
"I can see why the referee gave it. And in the last live TV game we had, we had Dexter sent off and I did not think that was a sending off, but I could see why the referee gave it. This was exactly the same.
"I am not going to run on the pitch and tell Simon to blast the ball over the bar, because we all live by the same rules. Everyone in this division will moan about decisions not going their way.
"Most people keep quiet when they do go in their favour. In the context of the game, it was fortunate for us.
"We gave the ball away so many times. You can talk about tactics, structure, organisation and anything else – but if you give the ball away as frequently as we did, then that all goes out the window. We will blame the early start!"
O'Driscoll was encouraged by his players' attitude, if nothing else.
"On a positive side, we gave ourselves a chance because we defended, we never gave anything up. We had players who followed up on balls they had no right to get," he said.
"We got a fortunate penalty at the other end, however. That is the first time we have come off the pitch this season where I have felt that we did not deserve anything. But we have got a point.
"We will try to react with a better performance. We want to play as well as we did against Middlesbrough when we play Sheffield Wednesday next weekend.
"Before the game, if you had offered me the point, I would have taken it. But, if you had told me we would play like this, I would say 'no, no, no, no'. The performance was not up to scratch. There were fewer positives to come out of this game than there were the three defeats we have had.
"We will look at this game in the same way as always, we will ask why we made poor decisions. We have to look at this and say to ourselves that we do not want too many performances like this."
Comments
by trickygaz
Monday, November 12 2012, 6:55PM
“Pepe is indeed a shadow of the player we saw last season.He's not worth his place at the moment.henri & lewis must be worth looking at as Radi will be off the scene for a good while.”
by BrindersGod
Sunday, November 11 2012, 11:57PM
“http://tinyurl.com/bepmje4
Is he any Cop?”
by BrindersGod
Sunday, November 11 2012, 11:19PM
“youtube.com/watch?v=zgWANV4V0Fo
Looking for a new right winger? This young man wasn't too dusty on his day and he's coming back to the City Ground on Saturday. What a goal by Spider!”
by mickycolosus
Sunday, November 11 2012, 10:19PM
“Well, seems like me and the Ref are the only people that thought it WAS a penalty.”
by BrindersGod
Sunday, November 11 2012, 7:30PM
“It was 2-2 on the pitch - somehow! - but in the moral battle of the managers our Sean wins hands down against one-eyed Nigel. Hardly a contest though, is it?
So the ref was 'gutless' for giving a penalty against the wishes of the vast majority of a large home crowd? He's 'totally disinterested in right and wrong', so does that mean he's a cheat? That's definitely worth a disrepute charge.
The rubbish managers - Sean apart - come out with is mind boggling. 'We could lose our jobs because of their mistakes, they should be accountable' they trot out. Really? Yesterday's ref made one poor, but honest, decision in the same way that City's forwards suffered from a combination of poor decisions and bad luck and Elliott Ward made an honest mistake in slicing through his own goal. Should they also be subjected to an after match public tirade?
Sean may not be the only manager who would have admitted that wasn't a pen - but all the others I know would have added a rider such as - mind you, we should have had three others.
Also because Sean admits we were rubbish, we'll start on the training ground with truth ringing in our ears rather than being misled by our own PR.
A last word, if the ref should apologise for getting the penalty decision wrong, shouldn't Pearson be questioned over why he appeals for every free kick and throw in decision. If the ref followed his word, he'd be going to a funny farm today.
Refs are accountable. Yesterday's official will be marked very low for getting the game's key decision wrong and has to meet very high standards to keep his job season by season. He does an honest job and, guess what, doesn't get paid thousands and thousands of pounds every week.”
by Trickypig
Sunday, November 11 2012, 5:44PM
“What has happened to Pep? He is a shadow of the player who stormed the CG last season. The goal cannot overshadow a stuttering performance. Was hoping for great things from him this season. I would get Cohen in centre midfield. He is limited out on the right.”
by trickygaz
Sunday, November 11 2012, 3:29PM
“The defence aint right & we had no pace or width.(they did!)Please sort asap.”
by Bodyguard_Rob
Sunday, November 11 2012, 3:18PM
“My best buddy,Jom, says that 5 in midfield would be great away from home”
by Bodyguard_Rob
Sunday, November 11 2012, 3:14PM
“My mate Jom says you're wrong and after reading your comments hes sponsored every home match this season”
by mickycolosus
Sunday, November 11 2012, 3:03PM
“Still say we should play with five in midfield. I would start with Gillett, Jenas, Reid, Cohen, and Pep. With MickyColosus as the lone striker!”