Nottingham Forests Impressive Home Form Continues But It Was Not The Easy Fixtur

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Despite riding their luck at times, Nottingham Forest managed to beat a spirited Peterborough side 1-0 at The City Ground.Things had taken a turn for the worse for ThePosh even before kick-off when their team coach got stuck in traffic and therefore could not pick the players up from London Road. The first team squad had to make their own way to Nottingham as a result and some did not arrive until a short time before kick-off. Due to the pre-match kafuffle Tommy Rowe was named Peterborough United captain for the day. Gannon started with a 4-5-1 formation, with his team struggling with injuries, Mark Little had to fill in at centre back with Kerrea Gilbert returning to the starting line up at right back. Exodus Geohagon continued to be amongst the starters in his new found position of defensive midfield and there was a welcome return from injury for Chris Whelpdale who began down the right hand side of midfield.In the opening stages of the match both sides  Jerome Brown Jersey had spells of pre sure but didnt create anything of note in front of goal. The start gave encouragement to the Posh faithful as it seemed their team had settled quickly against a Forest side who had won their last 10 matches at home.It was Forest who took the lead though, after 13 minutes, through Robbie Earnshaw. Chris Gunter beat Scott Griffiths far too easily and floated a cro s to the back post which was headed acro s goal by Paul Anderson for Earnshaw to volley the ball, unmarked, from close range, beyond Lewis and into the Peterborough United net.The goal seemed to lower Peterboroughs confidence, after defending well in the early stages they were carved open by the pace of Forests attack once again. This time a through ball from Radoslaw Majewski found Earnshaw but his shot, from 10 yards, was saved brilliantly by Joe Lewis in the Posh goal, low down to his left. It was another warning of Forests Avonte Maddox Jersey  attacking prowe s that has seen them challenge for an automatic promotion spot for much of the season, although making the top two does seem unlikely now for The Reds.Craig Mackail-Smith created Poshs firsthalf-chance of the afternoon, in horrible conditions, after Whelpdale managed to cro s, low, from the right hand side of the Forest box and quick turn and shot from the lone striker, who was chasing shadows for much of the game up to now, tested Lee Camp in the Nottingham Forest goal.Charlie Lee was next to try his luck for Posh, as the visitors began to create some chances for themselves, but after a surging run his long range effort never really troubled Camp who made a comfortable save.Posh were beginning to exert some pre sure on the Nottingham Forest defence and should have equalised through Tommy Rowe after he was found by Sergio Torres, who is starting to make a name for himself at Posh after a frustrating debut season; captain for the day Rowe was beyond the full-back and had a clear opportunity to put the ball beyond Camp and give his team an unlikely leveller but the Forest goalkeeper was equal to the close- Jason Peters Jersey range shot and saved well.Forest were startled into life and Dexter Blackstock rose well to win the aerial battle against Gabriel Zakuani but headed the ball straight at Lewis. The Posh were down to 10 men at the time with Tommy Rowe receiving treatment on what appeared to be a dislocated finger.The home side were visibly becoming frustrated, their visitors were expected to be comfortably beaten but were looking a threat to the promotion candidates impre sive home record, and Majewski slid in viciously on Griffiths right in front ofPoshmanager JimGannon, who was very angry about the nature of the challenge; Majewski was deservedly booked for the tackle.Jim Gannon made two changes at half-time as his Posh side changed to a more attacking formation with two strikers; Rueben Reid and Dominic Green replacing both the starting full-backs, ScottGriffiths and Kerrea Gilbert.Substitute Reid nearly made an immediate effect after his corner was met well by the head of Gabriel Zakuani but the centre back was denied by a tremendous reaction save from Lee Camp who managed to turn the ball over the bar, getting his whole body behind the ball. Posh continued to look dangerous and Mackail-Smith flicked a header goalwards moments later but once again the former Q.P.R keeper was a match for anything that was being thrown at him by the Posh attackers.The home side, spurred on by the crowd who began to get behind their team realising they may be in a spot of trouble, exerted some sustained pre sure on The Posh but the Peterborough defence was proving a match to anything the home side was trying, clearing and blocking shots on regular occasions.Dominic Green, who also seems to have found a new position in the centre of midfield under Gannon, tested Camp again but nothing was beating the shot stopper today as he got down excellently, stopping the low shot, which was zipping along the wet soil, at the City Ground.Joe Lewis, not to be out-done by Camp in the Forest goal, proved his talent making a great save to deny Chris Cohens long range shot; the a sistant referee signalled for a goal-kick much to the frustrations of every Forest fan behind the goal whos side didnt Rodney McLeod Jersey  get the corner that they were justified to have been awarded. Lewis again made a excellent save this time to stop substitute Gareth McLearys drive as the game became stretched with Posh sending players forward to get the equaliser their efforts deserved.Sergio Torres showed the skill that made formerPosh managerDarrenFerguson bring the ex Wycombe favourite to London Road back in the summer of 2009, jinking past two Forest defenders with the ball looking like it was glued to his feet, but his shot was deflected behind for a Peterborough United corner; theresulting set-piecewas comfortably caught by Lee Camp.Posh continued to threaten in the three minutes of additional time that were signalled, albeit mainly from long-throws and corners, but it was to no avail as the home side held on to win their 11th consecutive match at home although they would have expected it to have been a much easier fixture than it was against the Championships bottom club Peterborough United.For Posh it was a similar story once again; a game that they could have, and most probably should have, got at least a point out of but lacked the cutting edge Zach Brown Jersey  to do so. However the performance is one that every single Peterborough United fan will be proud of as their team played some great football at times and looked like a side that should be very much clear of relegation zone. The fact Lee Camp, whos exuberant celebrations at full-time did not earn him any fans in the away section, was named man of the match speaks volumes about Peterboroughs valiant efforts.