Portsmouth vs Nottingham Forest; The Return of Cotterill

Last Saturday saw the return of Steve Cotterill to Fratton Park after leaving 3 weeks earlier to take over at Nottingham Forest. Since then the stats aren't bad for either team. With Forest winning 3 games in 4 since Cotterill took over, a impressive stat for the ex-Pompey boss, where as Portsmouth have won 3 in 5 games. Pompey were keen to get over that horrendous Derby game and the tense Crystal Palace game on Tuesday.

I personally was dreading this match, as despite Forest winning with little panache they were still Nottingham Forest. Big club with big players that can create good chances, thankfully Ishmael Miller was out injured, so one big striker to not worry about!

The lineup news was fantastic with a strong side that looked to go out and attack, a home debut to Abdul Razak whom sounded a handful for Derby in his short sub cameo. Huseklepp back in for injured Lawrence and Norris being captain.

The minute silence for Armed Forces Day was impeccably observed with not a word spoken, except the rumbles of traffic and the odd mobile phone. The referee marked the end of the silence and the Pompey Chimes rang out, game on!

Now the first half was quite tense in my eyes, always are as we never switch on! Excluding the first 15 minutes of the Doncaster game, we seemed to not be bothered! Constantly being pressed and attacked by the Forest players, who at least should've had scored a few of the chances they had, McGugan shouldn't of squared the ball, as the following player scuffed his touch and allowed Henderson to run out and smother the ball. Ben-Haim kept losing possession and leaving his position exposed, the short passing was awful, too narrow and never looking to go forward! After corners there was no rush to get forward, except for Razak. Speaking of the young midfielder he hasn't got used to the Championship, his passing was alright, but you could see his quality, with a few good turns and crosses he looks to be a good loan signing.
Then came our goal, a good flowing move which Forest blocked fell to Mullins whom teed up a volley which crashed off the crossbar which I thought went in off it and so did most the ground whom went to celebrate, hoofed out by Forest which Huseklepp picked up, turned and ran on the edge of the box and unleashed a curling strike which fired into the top corner, superb!  It was a great goal by the Norwegian and you could see he enjoyed it just as much as we did! The goal looked like the ones we saw on YouTube when researching his name when signed.

Half time signalled an interesting fact, it was the first time we went into the second half in the lead this season! Half time also had the amusing 50/50 draw where a Mr Coppell was the winner, those around us had a laugh thinking it was the ex-Bristol City manager.

Second half started slow, passing game which kept pinging around the midfield, poor passing and play by both sides made it stifling to push forward. Forest kept taking corners exactly the same, but at times were threatening as if it hit anyone it might of gone in! Razak made a beautiful pass, dummied the defenders passing to Varney whom squared it to Norris, shooting which was saved by Camp looping the ball into the air which Varney quickly pounced to head narrowly over! Good build up play by Razak and Varney.
Forest had a good chance with a poor clearance falling to Findley who turned and struck a sure goal but Henderson saved it with a superb outstreched hand! Great save by the 24 year old, keeping Ashdown on the bench once more! Kitson was pressing and chasing down balls constantly this half making an utter nuiscance of himself, he was playing to prove a point to Cotterill, and prove it he did! Corner in the 75th minute which was whipped in by Huseklepp and Kitson rose up to head the ball home, game on, the banter began after this! The various chants were hilarious and set a great atmosphere for the rest of the game (which even Cotterill enjoyed), here are some of the best;

• "4-4-2, 4-4-2, 4-4-2!"
• "Stevie Cotterill, your taxi's outside!"
• "Should've stuck with McClaren! Stuck with McClaren"
• The constant whey's when decisions were given for us
• "2-0 to the 4-4-2"

One chant I always find a little disrespectful is the "There's only one Jamie Ashdown" chant, it is quite annoying since Henderson is proving to be a better keeper at the moment. As Benjani is only sung to when he's on the pitch, same as Kanu.
Later in the game we were still pressing forward looking for another goal, some scrappy play led to the 3rd goal of the afternoon which was crossed in by Norris after picking up a failed cross and crossed it low which Erik struck round the defender and beyond Lee Camp, another nice finish by the Norwegian! Not long after was another chance! Halford with a downward header which only just hit the bar and went over, inches more lower and it might of crashed in off the crossbar! That's the 4th time I've seen Halford hit the woodwork this season!
Full time and a good victory in the bag, it's been a good progression from the boring stand-off football Cotterill played into a good working team under Guy & Gray, with all this talk about new managers they have done very well to keep focused throughout, hats off to them!

Perhaps another blog about the main candidate? Maybe so, but after a nice Battlefield 3 session first!

So another 3 points, up to 16th! Play Up Pompey!