The team new landed. Chris Wood. Blimey. I wasn’t expecting that. I doubt if the Porto boss was either. Forest have clearly lacked goals this season. Goals win you games, obvs. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to imagine a world where Wood had continued to score for fun this season, and Forest are sitting pretty in the top ten of the Premier League. Hey hoe.
Also of interest in the team news was TWO Forest Academy players starting in the quarter-final of a major European competition. This is a statement that would have sounded bonkers only five years ago, as Chris Houghton started off the Championship season with the worst record in Forest’s history. Not only was Zach Abbott wearing the Garibaldi in a back five, but Ryan Yates was also Captaining Forest in European quarter-final. These things matter.
I listened to the two hour pre-match build up on BBC Radio Nottingham. Sir Colin of West Bridgford and the team do these occasions so well. It’s hard work panning out two hours of pre-match, without going into hype mode. The BBC got the balance just about right. I was all set to sync up the TNT telly pics with the radio, and then I realised that Fletch was on comms. I’ll have a bit of that. LIVE the Dream, Fletch.
KO came. The first minute was a little, erm, hairy. Christ, we could have been 1-0 down before we even got going. The three centre backs were split wide open. This was static defending, with three players that looked like they had just met each other in the tunnel. Steady the buffers. The Serbinator was clearly missed.
The inevitable Porto game came. Whoops. Time to for a re-think, time to hold your nerve. There wasn’t time for a Forest Plan B to be formed. The poor Porto fella scored the Goal of the Season a minute or so later. It was just a shame for him that it was in his own net.
Forest looked stronger at 1-1. They found their shape, and set up frustrating Porto. The atmosphere in the stadium came across on the telly as being intimidating. Some of the younger Forest players handled this well. Morato still had me with my head in my hands on more than one occasion. He is only one mistake away from implosion.
The second half was a lot calmer. I didn’t even need to reach for the BOOZE. I sat back, sipping away on my cups of tea as Forest killed off the game. This was a near perfect away performance in Europe. Ortega in goal was immense. He didn’t panic, and kept Forest in the tie.
An away draw at Porto is an outstanding result. It was all the more sweeter with most of the big hitters being rested, no injuries and no bookings. The return leg at the World Famous next week promises to be something special.