Match report: Reading 0 Nottingham Forest 1
A FINE solo strike from Lewis McGugan helped Nottingham Forest to a vital 1-0 victory at promotion chasing Reading and halt a run of six games without a win.
McGugan struck in the 62nd minute to earn Billy Davies' side a crucial three points to help maintain the gap between them and the bottom three.
It was no more than Forest deserved following a resurgent second- half in which they were the stronger side, following a first period dominated by Reading.
Forest should have gone behind in the second minute as Joel Lynch failed to clear a cross from the left, allowing Jimmy Kebe a free shot from ten yards, which he fired badly wide, while former Reds midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson sent a glancing header narrowly over.
The visitors only mustered rare moments of threat, with Robert Earnshaw hitting the side netting with a low shot, as Reading generally dominated.
Luke Chambers survived a scare when he appeared to handle in the box and Nathan Tyson had to block bravely to deny Kebe, after Paul Smith had failed to come for a dropping ball on the edge of his six-yard box.
Smith twice made capable saves to deny Liam Rosenior, as the full-back repeatedly tried his luck from range.
Just after Paul Anderson had fired a low shot narrowly wide, across the face of goal, Forest suffered a blow as Tyson limped off injured, to be replaced by Garath McCleary – although the substitute almost had an immediate impact with a crisp, rising shot that went close.
Chris Cohen's driving running in midfield was giving Forest a growing threat on the counter-attack and he sent Earnshaw bursting into the box on the right, where the striker lifted a shot over.
But Forest will still have been pleased to have reached half-time with the scores level.
It was the visitors who began the second period the brighter, however, as they prodded and probed at the Reading defence and began to find a few gaps.
Moussi sent a skimming shot wide of the post and McCleary was a growing threat down the right flank.
But it was a flowing move down the left side that carved out Forest's best chance of the game so far, with Anderson cutting the ball back to Cohen on the edge of the box, where the midfielder drew a spectacular save from Adam Federici with a precise, curling shot.
Forest's short spell of pressure was eventually to tell, however, as McGugan produced a moment of individual brilliance to fire them ahead in the 62nd minute.
There seemed to be little danger when McCleary picked out McGugan on the right, but the midfielder accelerated towards goal and, after beating two men with some neat footwork, fired a crisp left-foot finish just inside the post from 15 yards.
In the 71st minute Earnshaw was booked for time wasting – but it was not as if Forest were holding onto their lead, as Reading struggled to perform with the same level of menace as they had done in the first period.
And, while Forest had to produce some resolute defending to hold on to their advantage, Smith's goal was rarely troubled as the Reds hung on for a morale-boosting success.
73 Comments
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by S, Wilford
Monday, March 02 2009, 2:39AM
“No Probs Mick!!
Doughty and Marthur for all their grandstanding and "pick a year" plans, have caused way too much friction around here for too long.
They don't pay attention to the fans at all, OR good advice... So when they do leave their PR machine will no doubt say "how shocked and surprised they were at the level of feeling against them"”
by martin, belper
Sunday, March 01 2009, 5:21PM
“Mick Peterborough Your havin a laugh arnt ewe "When have Florist fans been on here slating the team " you never stop slating Smith and Lynch every other post is slating one of these no wonder your tha most fickle fans in this div”
by alwaysared, notts/derby border
Sunday, March 01 2009, 3:52PM
“to all that have asked.
garner does have a shoulder injury,he aggravated it against qpr,that was why he had to go off and had apparently been carrying it for a couple of weeks.
but i do agree that bd does not rate him.
great win yesterday coupled with the result at donny on friday means monday will be good for me at work in derby.
UUUUUUUUUUUREDS”
by Mr & Mrs Fickle, The Cedars, Chalfont St Giles
Sunday, March 01 2009, 10:00AM
“Arthur and Doughty's lawyers have been on to freeforest.co.uk . Apparently they do have a five year plan, but they haven't instigated it yet!”
by Mick, Peterborough
Sunday, March 01 2009, 9:46AM
“S, Wilford I completely agree mate. Sorry if I didn't explain myself properly. Doughty and Arthur are a disaster. I am one of the people that has been 'badmouthing' them for five years.”
by dhow, nottm
Sunday, March 01 2009, 8:51AM
“some say he is the stig, all we know he his the moose”
by Dougie, Arnold
Sunday, March 01 2009, 8:42AM
“Matt, Nottingham, Garner is supposedly out with a shoulder injury. He has been out since the Ipswich game where Davies was unhappy with his lack of effort during that game. Some think that the injury story was made up and that he is just out of favour with the manager. Billy did say shortly after that game that every player was going to have to fight for their place so who knows? The team played good as a unit yesterday even Lynch who has been under par previously looked good. YEW REDS!”
by ketteringred, Main stand Athur a Plank
Sunday, March 01 2009, 8:23AM
“Great result yesterday for the team, but we need to get this Mark Arthur out he is killing our club, which i cant stand anymore,dont know how the rest of the forest fans feel about him, but i cant stand the bloke”
by AL, nottm
Sunday, March 01 2009, 8:22AM
“To cream crackered to post last night,good day with the crew, crap beer though,heavy police again,due to Bristol city the week before, first 20 mins we were crap,then as reds fans got louder,the team responded,with some very neat passing ,(not seen for ages),still the fans kept singing,the goal was a gem ,Lewis,when he wants to be,can be awesome,wonderful,still the fans kept singing,we were as good as Reading,some great defending,slick passing,Mcleary gave them a torrid time,we hung on at the end,and the ref gave yellow cards out as we tired in the tackle,still the fans sang, BD, came on pitch on his own to applaud the fans,getting back to the bus,it was great to see EBBY doing an Irish jig, great day,but the beer was CR@P.Gone on abit lads but you have to savour these moments,hope Tyson ok,”
by S, Wilford
Sunday, March 01 2009, 4:42AM
“A good win lads, well done, a bit more confidence and trying to keep the side consistent will help us out.
As for 'bad mouthing ND/MA' Sorry Mick but ND/MA are a liabiity right now.
They haven't a clue about running a football club and our last 11yrs show they unlike a three year old...DON"T LEARN from their mistakes, or take advice from the people they should be.
Net result, they get it in the neck for not doing whats expected of them.”