Penalty save could be the Turning point in our season

People were saying that Barnsley was a must-win game, but thanks to results elsewhere largely going our way, we've ended the day a point closer to safety than we started it, so we've got to be pleased with that, especially as the game could have been all over had Iain Turner not saved a penalty.

Forest played very well in the first half, and did everything but score, with new loan-signing Dexter Blackstock looking particularly dangerous in attack alongside Rob Earnshaw, and Forest were a constant menace going forward. But Barnsley were always a threat on the counter attack, and made our defence work hard. Considering the frantic pace of the match, it was a surprise that the deadlock had still not be broken at half time.

But it was less than a minute into the second half when Barnsley took the lead. As per usual it was down to slack defending on Forest's part with Wes Morgan's headed clearance only making it as far as Jamal Campbell-Ryce who headed over the helpless Turner.

The usually reliable Morgan was again at fault when he tripped Andranik Teymourian and Barnsley were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark. However, Turner saved Campbell-Ryce's effort, and it was to be the turning point of the game (pardon the pun) as Forest deservedly equalised ten minutes later thanks to Rob Earnshaw's 15th goal of the season.

As both Norwich and Southampton lost their home games, a draw against Barnsley, who cannot be ruled out of the relegation battle themselves, was quite a good result. We are only a point away from safety with five matches to go now. If you told me that way back in November, I would have been delighted. Back then I thought we'd be virtually relegated by about March. True, we were four points clear not long ago, but things change so quickly in football. We've only claimed two points from our last fifteen, which has seen us drop right back into trouble. Just one more win would have seen us out of the relegation zone, so it just goes to show how many poor sides there are around us. I honestly expected both Norwich and Southampton to win on Saturday. Norwich were playing Sheffield Wednesday, and Southampton had Charlton, who barring a miracle of epic proportions, are heading for League One. We could have done without Plymouth winning at Blackpool, though, as they are now four points ahead of us, and they were my tip to get relegated, but that win has given them some breathing space now. But we can't ask for everything, can we?

We might well only be worrying about one relegation place now as there are rumours that Southampton could be docked ten points this week after their parent company went into administration. Technically the football club itself is not in administration, but the FA apparently could still punish them as they will face a backlash from other clubs who have been docked points. To be honest, whether or not they do lose points, I think Southampton are going down anyway. All the uncertainty off the pitch will see to that. I just hope that on the last day of the season when they visit us we're still alive ourselves.