Month by Month 2010/11 Season Review: March

March could and should have been a big month for the Reds. It was for the wrong reasons a pivotal month. We went from automatic promotion contenders to playoff also rans.


The month started out with a draw away at Middlebrough in a game we would have looked to win. Scott McDonald gave Boro a second half lead. It was a close in finish after the ball came to several players. Forest would then struggle to a point. After having a good penalty shout turned down we equalised in the 92nd minute with a typically scuffed Adebola goal, which although never a goal of the season contender, would still be delightful conclusion to a scrappy game.They all count as they say, and although not a vintage performance it was still grabbing something out of a game we looked like losing.


If that draw felt bad then the next game was worse. The unbeaten home run that had lasted so long, was shattered by Hull. Only a 1-0 defeat but it was a spirit crushing loss. We were beatable at home!!!! What was becoming apparent is without Moussi or McKenna the team simply didn't function. The remaining midfielders couldn't fill the deep lying role and a consequence we were frankly struggling. Hull's goal was a little fortuitous. A long ball deflected and span to Fryatt who finished smartly into the bottom corner. We had no reply, and lost. A rare sensation.

And a poor week was ended with a defeat away at Sheffield United against the team who eventually got relegated. This really wasn't aresulttn expected and to look at this set of three fixtures before hand they all looked bankers for a victory. Instead we came out of a set of matches I had down as 7 points minimum with but 1. Not good enough and form was deserting us at the wrong time of the season again. An all too familiar feeling. A real game of two halves, Forest had taken the lead in the first through Adebola, who was in inspired format the time. After Bogdanovich missed a penalty it looked like Forest were back to winning ways. However, we collapsed in the second period. Vokes and Lowton scored for the Blades, and that second goal had such a feeling of the inevitable about it.


At least in the next home game against Doncaster we didn't lose, and stopped a potentially horrible run. We didn't win either though. A dross 0-0 game which we should have when McCleary messed up a gilt edged chance. The ball had come to him plumb in front of goal around 12 yards out, but due to low confidence rather than taking it first time, he took a touch, and admittedly a bad touch, he took it backwards and his shot was easily blocked.The strikers all looked out of confidence and form, and he team disjointed as a whole. A match we really should have won and we limped to a draw. Promotion was sliding away, our form more in line with relegation form than promotion. The fans were getting angry. City Ground was not a happy place to be.

The final game of the month of March was an away defeat to Swansea, one of our main rivals. What with out terrible form not many fans expected much anyway. Went duly went behind. Sinclair skipping through a very static defence and scoring what looked a great goal, but was more to do with the Forest defence playing statues than Sinclair's ability. The second came from debutant Borini. He looped one over Camp and the Swans already looked home and hosed. We hit back through Kris Boyd scoring his first goal late in the first half, but it looked no more than a consolation. Sinclair and Dyer ripped us to shreds all match and carried on in the second half resulting in Borini's second goal. We again hit back in stoppage time through Anderson and then right at the death we hit the post,it would have been daylight robbery had we took a point. We were so much worse it was laughable and yet we were 1 inch off equalling Swansea. Cohen's in-swinging cross flicked off Anderson and the post. It was a lesson and warning about the playoffs, as we would lose to Swansea, but we were at this time looking unlike we would even make that.

We ended March winless, and low on confidence. Automatic promotion hopes were shattered and the playoffs were slipping out of our grasp. April would be a vital month.

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