Most of the first teamers who were rested against Blackpool were recalled to the starting line-up, which was something of a surprise as Billy Davies had hinted that he would be giving some of the fringe players another run-out. But with the play-off semi-finals looming ever closer, Davies was prepared to take the risk with injuries and suspensions by playing a near full-strength team. The 22,000+ Forest fans wouldn't have been best pleased to pay good money to watch useless long balls being lumped up the field to Dele Adebola after all.
Before the game, Lee Camp, who has had a magnificent season, was awarded the Player of the Year title. While it has been a tremendous team effort this season to earn a play-off place, Camp's heroics in goal, particularly away from home when Forest were on that long unbeaten run before Christmas, earned us a lot of points, which might not have been possible without him. I really hope that we can hold on to him next season if we don't get promoted, because I reckon there will be a few Premiership clubs enquiring about him in the summer. He is one of the few players that I think could make the step up.
Forest played some excellent football in the first half and took the lead nearly twenty minutes in when a neat ball from Radoslaw Majewski sent Rob Earnshaw clear through on goal before firing past the goalkeeper to score his 15th goal of the campaign. Their lead was doubled 15 minutes later when Bonza N'Gala scored an own goal, which may have deflected off Dexter Blackstock. Although Camp did have to make one or two saves, Forest looked very comfortable at half-time, and in the second half didn't seem in too much of a hurry to add to their lead. The crowd decided to make their own entertainment by instigating a Mexican wave. This created a carnival atmosphere, which with the backdrop of warm sunshine, made for an enjoyable day out. But with what was virtually the last kick of the game Forest did get themselves another goal when Paul Anderson, who had earlier come on as a substitute, exchanged passes with Lewis McGugan to score from a few yards out. It was a nice way for Forest to end their season at home by getting a goal right at the end. I just knew it was going to happen!
At the end of the match the entire squad did their annual lap of honour, which in recent seasons has been a bit of a misnomer, but this time around, even wben nothing has actually been won – yet – the players, Davies and his staff thoroughly deserve a huge round of applause for making Forest such a pleasure to watch again, which has rarely been the case in the 21st century.
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