Match Sponsor: Bank of Scotland
Match Ball Sponsor: Crozier Jones & Co.
A rainy day turned into a rainy evening as the Rovers welcomed their visitors from down the M1, Nottingham Forest. The season has now reached the stage where points are vital, none more so than tonight. Both teams, 3rd and 4th in the table, need the points to keep in front of the chasing pack. The Rovers have gained just one point from their last three games after a run of four successive wins and the Forest have drawn four of their last six with just one win. Earlier this season the game between the two teams at the City Ground ended in a goalless draw. The Rovers welcome back James O'Connor and Jason Price, who replace Steve Roberts and Mark McCammon. The main man missing from the Forest side is Kris Commons, not fully recovered from injury. Also missing is James Perch, who is suspended. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
The match started in steady rain, not the heavy stuff but the type that wets you through without noticing. The early exchanges were of two evenly matched teams, with both teams foraging in midfield as they attempted to set their respective attacks going. The Rovers won the first corner of the match on 6 minutes but nothing came of it. They won the second corner of the match on 13 minutes after a good move down their right, with another one following. Although nothing came of these the Rovers came again, with the ball going out to Gareth Roberts on the left. A terrific cross was met with a good header by Price forcing Smith in the Forest goal to tip over the bar. Price, on the edge of the penalty area, received the ball from the corner but put it over the bar under pressure from a defender. Further midfield play brought nothing tangible. Minutes later, Wellens fired wide from distance and from the goal kick Ormerod, at the other end, did likewise. Although the rain eased off halfway into the half, the pitch was greasy and players were losing their footing, mostly at the wrong time. The Rovers, now enjoying more of the play forced another corner after 23 minutes, which Smith did well to punch away under heavy pressure. Two minutes later, a good run by Green ended with a touch through to Heffernan ,to the left of goal 15 yards out but the ball wouldn't sit down causing him to fire wide. On 33 minutes, the Forest were awarded a free kick on their right but Stock, forceful in the tackle, won the ball and set up an attackby sending Green away down the Rovers right. Getting to the 18 yards line to the right of goal he hit a cracker of a shot but Smith was there to tip over the bar. Two more corners followed for the Rovers in the next few minutes but nothing came of them. Five minutes from the break, following a free kick to the Rovers on their left, the ball came out to O'Connor on the right but his low shot went wide of the far post. The half was brought to an end following a Forest corner but the ball was cleared. The Rovers had played some good football and had a majority of possession but the scoreline at the break was still blank.
The second half began in the same manner as the first, with the forest gaining the first corner of the half after 10 minutes play. Then, a minute later, a long ball out of defence by Gareth Roberts set Price away down the left but his finishing effort was high, wide and not very handsome. He had another go a couple of minutes later but skewed wide. Then a corner to the Rovers was cleared but just past the hour, good work on the Rovers right followed, with Coppinger giving to Green in the Forest penalty area. He unleashed a piledriver which Wilson blocked with some discomfort to himself. Another corner followed but it was cleared. Minutes later, a free kick on the Rovers left was worked to Stock but his shot went across goal and out for a throw in. On 69 minutes, a free kick just outside the Forest penalty area to the right of goal was hit left footed by Gareth Roberts going over the bar by inches. Straight down to the other end went Forest where Tyson and McGugan linked up but McGugan stabbed wide from close range. Then, in the 74th minute, the Rovers were awarded a free kick in virtually the same position as five minutes previously. Gareth ROBERTS took it again but this time hit a low drive that hit the near post and went in. Five minutes later and a Rovers attack ended with Price laying the ball back to Stock 20 yards out. A fierce low drive was touched away one handed by Smith in the Forest goal. The visitors, urged on by over 3,000 of their supporters tried to hit back but the Rovers defence had their measure. Three minutes from the end of normal time, Coppinger chased a ball into the left corner and passed inside to Heffernan in front of goal 15 yards out but Smith saved a cracking shot with his legs. Three minutes of added-on time were played but the Forest were pushed back into their own half and when the referee blew for time it was the Rovers who had emerged victorious by a single goal to widen the gap between the two teams.
A good match with good football from both sides although defences were generally on top so that the difference was a good free kick from Gareth Roberts who was voted Man of the Match.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Jason Price, Paul Heffernan
Subs used - Gareth Taylor for Heffernan 89mins; Steve Roberts for Coppinger 90 mins; Lewis Guy for Price 90mins;
Subs not used - James Hayter, Sean McDaid
Nottingham Forest - Paul Smith; Luke Chambers, Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson, Julian Bennett; ,Chris Cohen, Ian Breckin, Sammy Clingan, Matt Thornhill; Brett Ormerod, Nathan Tyson
Subs used - Lewis McGugan for Cohen 59mins; Junior Agogo for Thornhill 71 mins; Emile Sinclair for Ormerod 78mins;
Subs not used - Gareth McLeary, Mark Byrne
Caution - Bennett
