We rule
By Ian Grant
You see?
When you win, you're fantastic. The manager is a tactical genius - he knows exactly what to do in every
situation, bringing the best from his assortment of astute bargain buys and trusting ex-youth teamers. The
players themselves are athletic, finely honed demi-gods, each heroic in the pursuit of the victory. The fans
are united, re-affirming their identity and confirming their support from cradle to grave.
When you lose, you're rubbish. The manager is an absolute arse - he knows sod all about anything, failing to shape his
assortment of cheap, "not good enough" lower division cast-offs and plainly inadequate kids into anything more than
a complete rabble. The players themselves are lazy, uncommitted wasters, each shirking responsibility at every
turn. The fans are fighting among themselves, calling each other names and worrying themselves toward an
early grave.
On Saturday, a 3-0 thumping - the latter. Last night, a 3-0 thumping - the former. The difference between victory
and defeat, poles apart.
Not really, obviously. What changed in three days? Well, just the boldness of our approach, something that we
lost entirely as the second half at the Hawthorns dragged on. It was regained with a classic GT team selection, opening the entire
game up by playing with four recognised strikers and going on the offensive. Oh, how we'll miss him....
That boldness was rewarded by three priceless points against one of our less odious rivals. It was also rewarded
by good fortune, in that the swanky striking partnership of the previously mythical Stern John and the more familiar
David Johnson proved itself to be rather less than clinical in front of goal. That's the point, though - we
did our job, we didn't get too worried about whether the opposition would do theirs. That's the way.
Despite the headline-making thrills of Tommy Smith and Nordin Wooter, who spent the entire first half running
at the Forest defence from all angles, the result came from more basic means. The obstinacy of Tommy Mooney,
whose second goal disturbed and scattered a whole host of memories. The sheer work-rate of Allan Nielsen, whose
phenomenal performance was comparable to vintage Hessenthaler, and Steve Palmer, who appeared in unusually aggressive
mood and, bizarrely, nearly ended up clean through on goal twice in the early stages. We were really, really competitive here...
which, psychologically, is probably more important than being good right now. We were good too, just for the hell of it.
While Forest fans are forgiven for not looking forward to playing us again, both games have been thoroughly
entertaining. There are times, watching the likes of Burnley, when you forget that football can be like this. From
the off, as John, Prutton and Johnson all tried moderately ambitious (and unsuccessful) shots and Tommy Smith made in-roads
on the left, this was never dull. Perhaps a breakaway league - involving ourselves, Forest, Grimsby and anyone
else who doesn't mind making themselves beatable by playing football against us - might be an idea.
Quickly, it became clear that the pace and skill of our attacks down the wings would cause the visitors all kinds
of trouble. Really, though, it was the tremendous midfield of Nielsen and Palmer that stoked our fires and stole the show. Notably,
the only period of Forest dominance, at the start of the second half, was ended as soon as Micah Hyde arrived to
lend a hand in the centre.
As usual, the excitement levels rose with Nordin Wooter's involvement. From his superb cross, Gifton
Noel-Williams headed wide under pressure after ten minutes. Shortly afterwards, he cut in from the right, dreadlocks
flying and roared on by the Rookery end, and carved his way through the defensive shield in thrilling style - only
Prutton's desperate clearance from the resulting cross denied him a brilliant assist. Prutton, the best of the Forest
youngsters on show, brought a confidence-building, safe save from Espen Baardsen; Noel-Williams headed weakly at
Beasant from Palmer's cross; Smith shot at the keeper from twenty yards.
Bubbling under, as they used to say about records that hadn't quite made the top forty. After twenty minutes, that
all changed. It began with Neil Cox's towering ball over the top of the Forest defence, leaving Smith with enough
time to check for the linesman's flag before advancing on the right. He also had time to look up, take the coordinates
of the waiting Watford strikers, and deliver a perfect cross to Noel-Williams at the far post. Stooping to get the
right contact, the centre forward headed the Hornets into the lead. A goal that was just reward for a pivotal
performance from the youngster.
From then on, occasional Forest breaks were countered by vigilant defending. The rest belonged to Watford and the
several-pronged attack. Wooter slashed wide from a Noel-Williams knock-down, then the same players switched possession
across the face of the area to find Tommy Mooney, whose driven shot missed the far post by no more than a yard. Oh,
we weren't trashing them as we did Norwich...but, bearing in mind the importance of the fixture and the relative
league positions, we couldn't have expected any better.
The missing ingredient? A bit of bad temper. Cue Francis Benali. As one unsuccessful penalty appeal from Smith was
followed swiftly by another, the temperature began to rise rather nicely. For what it's worth, the first, which saw Smith
having his run blocked off by the aforementioned full back as he set off to challenge the keeper, was a better
shout than the second, when he simply fell over. However, since recognition of the first offence would probably have involved
giving an indirect free kick inside the six yard box, you can understand the referee's reluctance to intervene.
We kept our heads, though. With every fifty-fifty challenge, you braced yourself...but we didn't over-step
the mark. Crucially, and as at QPR, we allowed the aggressive atmosphere to fuel our performance rather than
become an end in itself. Hell, we even saw Nordin Wooter make an immaculate saving tackle inside his own area, something
that must be indicative of the reforming of a team from the set of individuals that finished the West Brom game.
Hjelde's diligence underneath his own crossbar prevented Noel-Williams from adding a second from Nielsen's
low cross, after the pace of Smith and the movement of Nielsen had undone the Forest defence again. Then it
was Wooter's turn, hurtling down the right and nipping inside to fire a drive just wide. Sometimes, you watch
us and wonder just how we've managed to be so rubbish on so many occasions.
Really, we'd played very well indeed.
The most significant moment of the second half arrived within a couple of minutes, as Cox's unconvincing free kick took
a touch from a defender and ended up at Mooney's feet. He buried it. Significant, because what followed would've
made us very nervous indeed if we'd only been defending a slender lead.
For the most part, you can't fault our rearguard. Indeed, even if it enjoyed a hearty helping of luck, there were
performances that deserved the first clean sheet at home since early November. Darren Ward was extremely combative,
suggesting that missing Saturday's game wasn't an experience he'd care to repeat too often. Neil Cox followed suit,
appearing to win vital headers inside the six yard area on more than one occasion, something that we can't always
praise him for. Robert Page became rather quiet in comparison.
Nevertheless, they missed some chances. Boy, did they miss some chances....
For a player with a reputation, Johnson's sliced shot, after he'd been set up so well by Prutton's run and pass, was lazy and
inadequate. The angle was tight, sure...but that's precisely why you make the effort to do something other than swinging
your leg in the vague direction of the ball. He recovered some dignity a minute later, with a dipping half-volley
from distance that was probably closer to the target than the earlier, easier shot.
Suddenly, we were getting overrun. The battling midfield that had previously provided adequate cover for the defence
could no longer stem the tide. Darren Ward got in the way of John's audacious backheel after crosses had whistled
to and fro like stray bullets. Then Benali whipped in a fine cross, the defence lost its concentration for an
instant, John rose unmarked...and directed his header past the post. It's fair to say that the wound made by the
failure to procure his services healed during the ninety minutes. I'm being polite.
Our only goal attempt during this somewhat fraught quarter of an hour came from Paul Robinson, barging his way
through the midfield and thumping a drive at Beasant from twenty-five yards. At the other end, John turned on the edge
of the box and his shot was struck with such venom that Baardsen took the option of punching it away from danger with
both fists. A break down the left found Johnson in a worrying amount of space - not for the first or last time,
the finish didn't match the approach work and he could only find the side netting as Page closed in. Then Prutton's long-range
attempt took a deflection from the Watford captain's leg, leading to momentary panic before it became clear that
Baardsen would be able to recover his ground and make the save.
So, no, this wasn't a comfortable victory. In the end, two things meant that we weren't forced to hang on grimly
until the final whistle. First, Micah Hyde replaced Nordin Wooter, instantly changing the balance of power in
midfield. Second, Tommy Mooney scored one of those goals.
At this stage, we weren't exactly attacking in numbers. The Moonster, however, always attacks in numbers, even when
he's on his own. As a long ball dropped over his shoulder, he had no right to win it. No right to be able to hold
off the defender as he took it on his chest. No right to get a shot in, let alone one hit with such power and
precision that it fairly ripped through the gap between Beasant and his near post. As every Watford fan knows, Tommy
Mooney does stuff that he has no right to do.
Naturally, things became rather easier from that point. Indeed, Noel-Williams was only a whisker away from scoring
a virtually identical goal just three minutes later, taking a long ball, shrugging off the attentions of a defender,
and belting a half-volley across the face of goal. Gifton was wonderful here, every bit as selfless in his work-rate
as the midfielders behind him, yet also carrying a real threat. Superficially, he might've appeared the least dangerous
of the four attacking players. Really, he was the pick of the bunch.
The remainder was largely uneventful, at least in comparison to the rousing entertainment that had preceded it. Mooney
embarked on a crusade, yet never got the chance to complete his hat-trick. The Forest strikers' frustration
increased, as Johnson fired at Baardsen from a tight angle and John thrashed a shot wide after turning Page. Encouragingly,
we refused to relax until the final whistle, remaining as thoroughly determined as ever. That determination will
be the abiding memory of this encounter. The abiding memory of Forest will be their willingness to get involved
in a football match, which is to their credit, if not to the benefit of their points total.
So, the context of this match is next Saturday's result. This can be another tantalising, temporary glimpse of
what we could achieve. Or it can be the foundation for a run of results. After so many suggestions and chances
and revived hopes, all of which have ended in disappointment, there won't be another "next time".
