“At last” we cry, Nottingham Forest are back playing football, all be it under very unusual but at least ‘safe’ circumstances thanks to the various new measures brought into play but was it very much same again as we analyse our post-lockdown Reds or did we learn something new about Sabri Lamouchi’s men after they were eventually held to a point a piece by their hosts Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship return.

Sow Near So Far

It was another late goal that cost Forest all three points but a bigger disappointment than not winning the game (for me) came prior to kick off when it was announced Samba Sow (yet again) was unfit to play.

We all know the qualities the big Mali midfielder brings in often anchoring the central positions of the side next to the magnificent Ben Watson (who also missed the draw at Hillsborough through injury) and the statistics don’t lie, when Sow plays the Reds do not lose. Which adds further to the frustration, he doesn’t play enough.

Never mind the win ratio that is around 25% without Sow compared to 75% with him. If we compare both Watson (34) & Sow (31) this season, the former, older, slower, less physical, less dynamic, has played more games (37 v 16 plus 2 sub) and had more influence with 3 goals and 3 assists v no goals and one assist and has more importantly played over twice as many minutes 3286 v 1340.

Now I am not saying Watson is a better player than Sow because he’s not, but due to Sow’s persistent knee injury If I were to choose one of the two who I wanted when the chips were down it would always be Watson who at least gives us game time.

Samba Sow is a cracking footballer, but Nottingham Forest can’t build a team around a player who misses half the matches through injury.

Sabri Still Won’t Go Get Em

We love Sabri and what he’s done for Nottingham Forest Football Club, we are delighted that he’s extended his stay and we accept he’s very much substance over style echoed by his influence from the likes of Guy Roux and Arrigo Sacchi two great Managers that he’s played under in years past. But Sabri sets his sides up very much not to get beat, rather than to go out and win games.

Whilst this philosophy might work when facing the likes of Leeds United at the top of the table, setting up against Brentford, Swansea and Fulham away also spring to mind, this style won’t always allow Forest to dictate games and instead of going for the jugular when on top, the Reds will these days ‘still’ quite happily get a goal and try and defend it out. Problem is, they are not always good enough to do that and results verses Reading (twice), Middlesbrough (at home), Millwall (away) and now Sheffield Wednesday suggest that too.

When Joe Lolley gave Forest the lead yesterday it was during the Reds best spell of pressure at a time when the game was at its most open. Just think if they went for one more instead of shutting up shop? Yes they defended well late on with no real Wednesday threat, but a game that could have been won inside ninety minutes ended up being a draw after it, because the Forest defenders aren’t yet at a level to consistently see games out from leading positions.

Lolley Still Sweet

My best form of defence for Nottingham Forest would be attack, and in Joe Lolley we have learned nothing more than we still have one of the best attacking players in the Championship. The West Midlander was terrific yesterday, a constant thorn in the opposition and his goal was magnificent, taking a tricky ball down in his stride making football look rather easy.

The most important attacking outlet the team has, he needs to be the man Forest look to go through to get goals and these final few games of the campaign could suit Lolley to do just that. His influence is essential if Forest are to make the playoffs.

The Fans Come First

Fans have still not been refunded for their tickets to Hillsborough, fans have squabbled over social media about season card refunds, fans have been left angry and frustrated by the iFollow subscription needed to watch the games with signing in problems, account issues, even a black out during yesterdays game due probably to the huge influx of viewers on a new untested platform.

Forest all be it during unprecedented times have handled this ‘badly’. Surely away ticket refunds could have been dealt with by now (everyone gets a £30 voucher after explaining that the money is still with Sheffield Wednesday), surely season card discount could be applied to next season for those renewing? Surely ‘anyone’ with a Forest account should have been given access to iFollow for one month only?

These teething issues are easily amended and if the club worked with a little ‘give’ over ‘take’ then I’m sure those ‘happy’ with the decisions would still come back and pay more and more and more… Remember the fans have been hit hardest of all with this, we can’t get to see our team play, so doing the best to ensure the fans get reimbursed is essential towards them backing you when you need them most.

Diakhaby – Oh Not Again

He was on the pitch for less than 3 minutes yesterday… And despite Toby Figueiredo failing to get close enough to Connor Wickham who equalised in injury time – it was still all the Huddersfield loanees fault.

In truth he did little to suggest that he was a worthy sub, brought on to kill time, he had two touches in total and defended a bit, but on this occasion not really worth the criticism he always seems to get.

As fans we need to get behind our players (yes all of them) and not make scapegoats out of footballers which can only have a negative effect on the club. Yes Diakhaby was not the signing we wanted back in January, but he’s what we’ve got, so when he’s on that pitch, let us get behind him and you never know, with a little support, he might just go on to surprise us in his short stay here.

The Championship ‘Is What It Is’

We all looked forward to yesterday in the hope that Forest would come away with the perfect performance and for 91 and a half minutes that looked to be the case. But the Championship, ‘the toughest league in the world’ they say, has a notorious way of kicking you in the bollocks when you least expect it.

A learning curve to those that might have forgot, this isn’t going to be an easy ride. We’ll win games we shouldn’t and lose when we shouldn’t, but no matter what, the Reds under Lamouchi will always give their best and i’ll be happy by the time we face Stoke if we still have a chance of making the cut, because knowing the Championship, knowing there’s still a long way to go… In this league, anything really can happen.

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

Main image @NFFC Joe Lolley celebrates scoring in yesterdays match at Hillsborough.