What a difference a year makes 23/03/04 | by TrickyMatt

Roughly one year ago, I penned (or is that typed?) an article describing the elation of our 3-0 destruction of Derby County at the City Ground. One year on, I am tempted to erase all memory of last Saturday, but that’s not what being a football fan is about. It is only fair that a chronicle one of my worst experiences as a Red in the 16 years I have been watching them. Supporters of Southampton and West Ham will share similar sentiments as us this week, I am sure.

I didn’t have a ticket for this game, as was the case for thousands, but that didn’t stop me from trying to get in all the same. After sinking some good quality Worthington’s in Derby, I set off nice and early to the Sheep Dip in the hunt for tickets. After annoying many in my request for spares, I hit gold, finding one from a fan who had been let down by a mate (I cannot comprehend it either readers!) who moved it on at face value. Thank you once again - a true fan you really are. After the initial fear factor of losing, now I had a ticket I had my usual, pre-match over confidence that remains the same wherever Forest may be in the table. Shall I bother writing the rest of this?!

The atmosphere inside the concourse was absolutely electric - the place was really jumping as the pre-match excitement kicked in. Getting a pint was a challenge, but I reckon I lost a few stone in the process! I was on the second from back row so secured a decent vantage point for the what was to be an absolute nightmare - at least I saw it clearly enough to know who to blame!

A mention must be made of the ridiculous conditions. The wind was gale-force, interspersed with torrential rain. The pitch was surprisingly poor, not aided by the multitude of rubbish that found its way onto the surface (more on that later). Forest started dreadfully, whilst Derby looked fired-up and set about hitting as many balls down the Forest channels as possible. No more than four minutes had gone when Ian Taylor finished well to put us one down. Being near the segregated area, I was unfortunately subjected to much goading and baiting (as you are when your rivals score against you), which reminded of my hate towards our sheep-bothering neighbours. Forest remained off the pace with too many balls going astray and too many players missing tackles.

Needless to say, Nick Barmby in particular seemed to have the right idea in keeping the ball on the deck and we started to edge our way back into proceedings before a five-minute spell as good as ended the game as a contest. The coffee cup incident will haunt us, and indeed Barry Roche, for years to come, and the last time I saw anything as ridiculous would have been the Gary Crosby incident with Andy Dibble when we beat Manchester City in 1990.

I watched on in utter disbelief as Peschisolido slotted in number three just minutes later, at which point suicide was considered!

Gareth Taylor, one of the few players who actually looked bothered, restored a flicker of hope when he bravely headed home on the stroke of half-time. It looks as if Kinnear is getting the best out of the Welshman - not before time, may I add. The feeling in the toilets was that a draw was achievable, a view I shared as long as we got one relatively shortly after the break. 

The second half began with more Forest pressure, and the expected Kinnear rollicking had obviously been administered. We still weren’t creating many clear-cut chances, until the 67th minute when we pulled a second goal back. Gareth Williams (finding his shooting boots at last) powered one home having seen a header come back off the bar and had us Reds celebrating with a little more hope, and it was looking good for a Man City-style comeback. The Derby fans to our right began to look a little nervous as you would with the unusually high number of comebacks which we have seen up and down the country this season.

With about 80 minutes on the clock, Reidy, who wasn’t having the best of days, picked up the ball on half way. After skinning Jeff Kenna, Reid had Taylor and, more importantly, David Johnson coming in on the near post unmarked. Reid’s cross-cum-shot was easily handled by Derby’s keeper and the golden chance had been lost. Minutes later, Derby finished the contest with another spawny goal, this time a deflected effort off the knee of the perennially poor Andy Impey.

So who was to blame? Well certainly the players, but just as much goes to the door of the manager. What was John Thompson was doing on the bench whilst Eoin Jess and Danny Sonner were on the pitch? Jess gave the ball away countless times, and was easily disposed in the middle of the park in the build up to Derby’s crucial third goal. Sonner tries hard enough, but is lacking in quality. I just feel that Thompson would have been useful in the poor conditions, what with his appetite for a tackle. Maybe Andy Reid would have had the ball in more advanced positions as a result. It’s all over now I suppose, thank God.

So where does that leave us? Well Derby have a tricky game away to Sunderland on Saturday, whereas we have a winnable home game against the unpredictable Crewe. A win at the Sheep Dip could have really moved us away from danger at the expense of the Sheep - the defeat has undoubtedly thrown everything back into the melting pot. Having had a peek at the fixtures, I don’t want to be going to the Hawthorns on the last day of the season needing three points!