First things first, this is a curtailed match report. I went on a Jolly Boys Outing with the Tony Jefferies T.I.T.S. (Tony's Independent Travel Services), the first time I'd done it in a long while and, boy, did I have a thoroughly good time. I needed a blast and I certainly had it, the fact City beat Forest 1-0 only served to make the day even better.
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I believe ours was the first coach to leave South Wales, we were on our way at 7:30 while others didn't go for more than 2 hours later. Tony had arranged a village pub in the quaint village of Gotham (yep, we had loads of Batman chants even though I believe it's pronounced "Go-Tham" and the locals get annoyed by visitors asking for the Batphone or where they can find the Batcave.
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We settled into a good session and our group also moved onto another village pub. These were typical old school village pubs - no quiz machines, no fruit machines, no pool tables but they had dartboards and did serve ploughmans lunches.
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Then it all became hazy and a blur although I did ring the world on the way home to tell them I loved them and ran out of battery long before getting back to Cardiff and I sang my heart out in support of City.
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Cardiff were lucky. Even in my state, I recognised that but I always felt they would succeed and never felt Forest would score. Forest are now firmly rooted to the bottom and have gone 10 games without a win, City are up to 4th - one goal is usually enough against them and we had the nous to grab that and keep them out at the other end.
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City made one change recalling Joe Ledley after his hamstring absence in place of Whitts and lined up with Heaton; McNaughton-Johnson-Purse-Kennedy; Parry-Rae-McPhail-Ledley; Bothroyd-McCormack. Subs: Enckelman, Whittingham, E Johnson, Comminges, Gyepes
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FOREST: Camp, Perch, Lynch, Wilson, Morgan, Anderson, Fletcher, McGugan, Cohen, McCleary, Garner. Subs: Chambers, Tyson, Earnshaw, Davies, Thornhill. There was some pre-game hype about the girl Andy Cole wanting to exact revenge on Darren Purse after the pair were embroiled in an infamous incident at Burnley last season and Cole's subsequent hissyfit about wanting to face Purse one more time but he's not even good enough to get in their 16 and aftermatch reports emerged that he may be quitting the club and football altogether. Ah bless. Earnie, City's ex-hero Rob Earnshaw, was on the bench returning from injury.
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The crowd was 17,000 but more than 2,000 Bluebirds made all the noise and a terrific racket too. Post-game news was all about the vile chants of a section of Forest followers to Dave Jones from a personal viewpoint, I never even heard them as it was drowned by our singing.
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As for the game, Forest took the match to City and gave us a general run around but Heaton made two comfortable saves while other efforts were of the high, wide and ugly variety and it was City who had the best chance to score as a blocked cross fell perfectly for Jay Bothroyd in front of goal, his technique was excellent but his shooting didn't match it as he blazed wide of an inviting goal. Some reports laughably talked about Forest hitting the post and it was included in the stats count too but the player was offside and flagged before he shot.
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The second period saw Darren Purse limp out to be replaced by Gabor Gypes at last getting some action after signing from Northampton in August and he acquitted himself well. He played in a similar style to Purse and looks a very useful addition. Forest also made a change, bringing on one-time City target Nathan Tyson who created one chance that was blocked and fired just wide with another attacking towards the City end.
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However on 56 minutes, the breakthrough. A City attack was innocuous but as McPhail tried to beat a player inside the box, a poor lunge saw him caught and it was another penalty. Our 7th of the season already, I honestly cannot recall a time we have had so many but all were merited. ROSS McCORMACK stepped up having scored 6 of them but missed the last one in midweek as the Watford keeper dived the same way - to his right- that Ross had sent every one. Forest's keeper, Lee Camp, dutifully did the same thing too but McCormack finally varied it and shot down the middle to take his season's tally into double figures.
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From that point, it was easy to forsee City would look to shut up shop and they did so despite losing Mark Kennedy and having to put Comminges on at left back. Forest were getting nowhere so brought on Earnie for the final 15 to an ovation all around the ground and a bigger one from City's fans than Forest's - hilarious to see him immediately ayatollah on request!
Earnie almost rescued it as he was one on one against Heaton but the keeper made an outstanding save to reach the shot across him and divert the ball over the bar while he stood firm as Earnie hit another effort thankfully close enough for him him to grab.
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So City go striding on and we headed home in party mood on the battlebus ... was my head sore all Sunday! Happy Daze!!
