What a thoroughly miserable evening with very few positives to take. In fact there were zero positives to take. The best I can offer is the smile I raised when news dropped that Taiwo had scored early doors for Coventry. We’ll miss him when he’s gone…
Shortly before KO it was confirmed that Delap was about to sign for Forest. There’s some neat symmetry there. Farewell Taiwo, hello Delap.
I can’t but help think they are both very similar players in terms of confidence. Leeds at home in the League Cup would have been ideal for Big T.
I was reflecting earlier in the day about the epic League Cup semi against Leeds back in 1978. Yep, I was there. I still have the programme to certify this. That seemed like an absolute proper cup tie. Tuesday evening in August felt less so.
The team news wasn’t any great surprise. Five changes from the 1-0 home defeat against Leeds only three days earlier suggests that OG was taking this competition seriously.
I had to watch the game on crappy ITV. Sadly I couldn’t get Sir Colin of West Bridgford’s commentary as it wasn’t even available on the Forest app.
Forest walked out in what looked like a League Cup walkout kit. That’s going to become something of a collector’s item on eBay in years to come. Almost box fresh, worn once. Whatever did happen to those Europa League whistle and flutes?
Leeds really are a horrid side. I can’t take any team seriously that has a player in goal sporting a man bun.
Forest weren’t poor in the first half. They just lacked pace and attacking ideas. Ola seems to be making progress down his wing as part of his new role. Not so Neco, Surprisingly he was caught out more than once.
Meanwhile Kalimuendo seemed to be playing for his place ahead of the transfer window. It was disappointing to see Diomande look so shaky on his home debut.
It was round about here that I started to lose interest as the first Leeds goal went in. It had been something of a long work day and I confess to resting my eyes on more than one occasion.
I was just about present and correct to see that we’re still as shit as ever at defending set pieces - or even taking set pieces. I can’t see what Delap brings to the table on this front.
The inevitable second goal followed. Heads dropped, the body language looked shocking for Forest. It looked proper miserable to actually be there at the World Famous.
And so we crash out of the League Cup once again in the early rounds. At best this was a Forest performance on par with peak Dyche. SHIT THE BED. That’s saying something.