Rediscovering defensive strength is key to Forest's away form says striker Blackstock
NOTTINGHAM Forest must rediscover their defensive resolve away from home, Dexter Blackstock said today.
The Reds have now notched up 13 games without victory away from the City Ground.,
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Dexter Blackstock
But, prior to that, they had been unbeaten in 16 games on their travels, as a remarkable run of form firstly helped them avoid relegation at the end of the 2008/09 campaign, before establishing them among the promotion contenders last season.
Forest conceded only ten goals during that spell.
And, following a weekend when they again – as they had done at Burnley – conceded an uncharacteristically soft goal to gift Reading the lead at the Madejski Stadium, Blackstock hopes they can rediscover the winning habit.
"If we can get back to being solid and hard to break down, we know we have players in the forward areas who can do damage," he said.
"We need to be solid defensively and build from there.
"If we can do that, we can get back to the kind of away form we had for long periods last season.
"At least, that should be our aim. Last season we were always solid at the back; always difficult to break down.
"That provided a solid foundation and can do so again."
And Blackstock believes the events of last season, which also saw Forest make the City Ground a fortress in the second half of the campaign, should give them confidence.
"As a team we played very well through the whole season," he said. "We were very solid at home in particular and broke lots of records.
"What more could you ask? We were unlucky towards the end. But we have a young squad who will have gained a valuable year of experience.
"They will be better for that and we will give it a real good go this time as well."
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by bored, work
Friday, August 27 2010, 5:16AM
“Awesome, well done this is just the thing we all need to sing on saturday if this does'nt fire the boys up what will??
You Absolute Cretin........go down A52 with the rest of the subhumans i think you'll fit right in.”
by any better suggestions?, THE INFAMOUS A BLOCK
Thursday, August 26 2010, 10:05PM
“MARK ARTHUR WHAT A W*NKER WHAT A W*NKER!
MARK ARTHUR WHAT A W*NKER WHAT A W*NKER!
BILLY DAVIES IS A FOOTBALL GENIUS!
MARK ARTHUR'S A F*CKING IDIOT!
BILLY DAVIES IS A FOOTBALL GENIUS!
MARK ARTHUR'S A F*CKING IDIOT!
DOWN THE AGES BEFORE US, BACK THROUGH HISTORY,
WE ALL FOLLOW THE FOREST ONTO VICTORY,
LALALALALA,
WE HATE DAVID PLEAT,
WE HATE THE AP TOO, THERE SHIT!
WE HATE MARK ARTHUR!
BUT FOREST WE LOVE YOU!”
by it could work, a true garibaldi
Thursday, August 26 2010, 9:55PM
“there is facebook group called get marthur and pleat out of forest before they ruin our club every should join. i no its only facebook but its a start.
BILLY DAVIES IS A RED,
IS A RED IS A RED,
BILLY DAVIES IS A RED,
IS A RED, IS A RED,
HE HATES MARTHUR!!!!
so do 99.5% of forest fans.”
by .,.., ....
Thursday, August 26 2010, 9:21PM
“BANG 100”
by Gary, Hougham
Thursday, August 26 2010, 8:20PM
“Paul, Sheffield
By the way this is a comment forum on football and most people use abbreviations & slang.
When I want a reminder of how to write grammatically correct prose I will refer back to my research works published whilst attaining my BSc Hons, Postgraduate diploma and my doctorate thank you. Not someone from Sheffield who cannot see the bleeding obvious!
YOU REDS!”
by Gary, Hougham
Thursday, August 26 2010, 8:12PM
“Paul, Sheffield.
The only simple one around here is the bloke suggesting we aren't weaker than last season.
You are definitely in the minority on that one.
I note you also answer my reasoned argument with derision and abuse.
The mark of a simple mind if ever there was one.
Keep your abuse for the gutter and your comments polite or just don't comment.”
by Red4Ever, over here
Thursday, August 26 2010, 7:56PM
“Paul, there is no doubt in my mind we are weaker, BUT!!! Funny how you failed to mention the other part of the post, THE PROMISES????? from ND & MA, talk about selective posting.”
by Gary "Hougham" Plotter, Garibaldi Gryffyndor Trent End Tower
Thursday, August 26 2010, 7:53PM
“TROUBLED TIMES IN THE DARK FOREST
Recent reports have suggested that Mark Arthur "the defence against the signing of expensive dark farts" professor has £10 Galleons to spend on Championship Quiditch players.
"I'm keeping it in my vault number 477 at Gringots bank until he who shall not be named (from the land of the tartan clad Celts) has be vanquished!" he was quoted as saying as he flew from the boardroom on his Mercedes 2010 broom stick.
Chief Goblin David Pleat was seen carrying the chest of much gold into a nearby waiting invisibly drawn carriage for transport to the Goblin bank.
The minister of magic Professor Doughty is said to be keeping a low profile as student followers of his quiditch team the Garibaldi Griffindor Reds become increasingly bewitched by the confunduss charm he has over his followers on the Acquisition Panel!
He who shall not be named meanwhile is said to be beside himself with rage as many quality quiditch players seem to be signing for rival teams. "The Ravenclaw Dog Leads, Leicester Looney Hufflepuffs and even the Sheep Slytherin Rams have all signed players" he complained!
According to magic social page "Witchbook", Gary Hougham Plotter does not "like" this! Commenting..........
"At least the Measley brothers have opened up a smart new shop in Diagroan alley to sell the two new replacement quiditch kits which will fleece a few unsuspecting Muggles out of their last golden coins!"
Terry "Hagrid" Kitman was less than impressed with the two new kits saying "I bought them from a bloke I met down the pub!"
"Why doesn't one of them use their magic wand?" said Gary "Hougham" Plotter.
It seems that Dark clouds in the shape of skulls will continue to circle the City Quiditch Ground for some time to come.”
by Paul, Sheffield
Thursday, August 26 2010, 7:46PM
“Gary, Hougham.
So Garner is a striker, better than Thornhill? Last season he played mainly in midfield, made 21 apps and scored 2 goals. Thornhill has played 1 game this year, 1 goal from midfield. Are you sure he's not as good. Don't think BD thinks so.
Perch, roundly abused, unfairly, by many. Has failed to make any position his own. Maloney was doing well under Calderwood, MOTM in his last game, went to Mugpies and was outstanding, Forest refused to sell him before injury. A young tremendous prospect, I believe a better chance of being a regular than Perch.
Shorey only played 9 games, did very well, now sub for WBA. Bertrand will be judged over 6 months, but Chelsea don't sign no-hopers and Stuart Pearce rates him for England U21's. Are you a better judge than Psycho? The back-up keeper is largely irrelevant, should Camp be a long term absentee we'd loan an experienced replacement as in the past.
So I'd still argue we're no worse off than last season, but of course you're only seeing the negatives, your previous posts reflect this.
By the way, anybody who uses the term SIMPLES obviously is. And the correct punctuation is who's which is the shortened form of who is.”
by darkomen, nottingham
Thursday, August 26 2010, 7:35PM
“Forest have bored me for a month now no one bit of good news that is true its disgracefull if we dont sign anyone on loan or on contract i hope doughty leaves. now i no some of u will moan at me saying he's invested lots of money into this club. but he also said he would be signing players. if he came out at the begining of the season and said where not signing player then i would not be checking this site. so what i am saying is a question every forest fan wants to no what is going on whith forest???”