I didn't get too excited when Lewis McGugan gave us the lead from the penalty spot just before half time as QPR had been so lethal going forward, and it was only a matter of time before they scored. They had hit the post earlier on and our defence, which was made up of three central defenders and Brendan Moloney and Joe Heath as wing backs was really struggling to cope with the abundance of pace that Rangers had at their disposal. Indeed just a couple of minutes after the penalty, incidentally our first in the League this season, QPR equalised right on the stroke of the whistle sounding for half time.
Rangers scored again almost immediately after the restart, and to be honest I thought that we had had it. But to our enormous credit, the players refused to let their heads drop and they just got on with it, digging deep for an equaliser, which duly came from Chris Cohen a few minutes after the hour mark. Again, I refused to get excited, but thankfully we managed to hold on for a decent point, which takes us four points away from the relegation places. None of the bottom three teams played as their games were postponed because of the snow, but only Watford have a game in hand on us, so it gives us a little bit of breathing space ahead of a daunting schedule that includes tricky looking away trips to Birmingham, Ipswich and Reading.
Actually now is quite a good time to play Birmingham as they are going through a rather lacklustre spell and are finding it difficult to score goals. They were held at home to a disappointing draw at home to Burnley this weekend, so there is no reason why not we can't get something from them, especially if we go there with one or two loan signings, which hopefully will be forthcoming this week.
We're all desperate for Lee Camp to come back, and judging by his post-match interview on Radio Nottingham, so is he. But apparently there might just be a problem as there is a rule stating that no short-term loan player can spend more than 93 days at a club during the season, so surely that rules Camp out then? How weird then that Forest and Camp himself don't seem to be aware of it. Rumour is Camp has been holding talks with Billy Davies about a possible return, and he said that 'the ball is in Forest's court' if they want to sign him. Surely Forest must be aware of the rules. Unless there is something we have missed, of course?
Whether Camp does come back or not, it's absolutely critical that we sign a competent goalkeeper, because Paul Smith is just not good enough. Yes, he is capable of making excellent saves, but what goalkeeper doesn't? A good goalkeeper must be able to command his area and inspire the men in front of him. His clearances should also help set up attacks, rather than go into the stands like Smith's do more often than not. Camp has all these attributes and I think Forest should be doing everything in their power to sign him, if not before the end of the season, then in the summer. In the meantime, if we can't get Camp, we should look to somebody else. Blackburn's Mark Bunn has been linked with us recently, and though I know little about him, I've heard other fans on the forum speak favourably of him, so he'll do, I'm sure. All I know is that if we are to win this relegation battle, having a decent goalkeeper is going to be crucial.
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