Home
Wanderers did not let themselves down, as crestfallen goal-scorer Will Buckley suggested after the final whistle at Forest, but you could not help feeling what might have been.
Recovering from a haphazard opening 15 minutes, Phil Parkinson’s side pieced together one of their more convincing 45 minutes of football this season either side of the break. Will Buckley bravely headed them level but the wastefulness of Gary Madine and Josh Vela early in the second half came back to bite them on the behind.
Once Forest regained their lead the response was timid, frustratingly so, aside for a frantic finale when Aaron Wilbraham’s muscle forced Joe Worrall to slide the ball into his own net.
Buckley – whose easy-on-the-eye running had been a feature of Wanderers’ dominance – summed it up rather bluntly as the players departed the City Ground bound for their Christmas party.
“They definitely would have crumbled because we were so far on top. We had a few chances – Josh’s header was probably just a little bit too high for him, and Gaz had a good one as well,” he said.
“You have to be in those areas to score but we didn’t take them.
“Then we’re disappointed with the manner we conceded the goals.
“We’d been on top for a good 15 minutes and that’s the most disappointing thing. We’d dominated the second half and it was such a shock we stopped playing for another 15 minutes and let ourselves down.”
Wanderers have happened across a formula which – Molineux aside – has given them a chance in every game for the last couple of months. Some subtle tweaks have been made, including Buckley’s introduction on the left, but Parkinson made a bold tactical decision by sticking with Reece Burke ahead of the returning David Wheater.
Only Reading and Fulham have had more possession than Forest in the Championship this season but the inclusion of the West Ham youngster, so comfortable with the ball at his feet, allowed the Whites to carve it up 50-50.
Wanderers’ use of the ball at the City Ground was as good as it has been since they returned to this level of football and though the result went against them in the end, it was a tantalising glimpse of a team which can do something more than hit a target man and play from there.
Forest’s skilful front line must be a joy to watch in full flow, and it is little wonder Zach Clough is finding regular football so hard to come by. Yet a bright start from Ty Walker, Keiran Dowell and Barrie McKay dried up after Mark Warburton’s side had seized the lead.
McKay did the honours, sliding in Walker’s low cross from the right. The speed at which Forest were breaking at that stage of the game made you fear for Bolton’s well-being.
Yet gradually the Whites started to win their battles. Antonee Robinson, Sammy Ameobi and Buckley himself recovered from a sloppy start in possession to put the home side on the back foot and change the festive mood which had built up on a crisp December afternoon.
An equaliser was thoroughly deserved. Josh Vela raced on to Ameobi’s pass to dig a fine cross out from the right and Buckley dived to head the ball at satisfying full length over the line from close range.
From there, Wanderers really should have gone on to build an unassailable lead.
Madine got great contact on a head from Vela’s corner shortly after the restart but angled his effort just wide of the post. And moments later, Vela failed to climb the extra inch needed to divert Buckley’s centre into the net, rather than over the bar.
With their side in the ascendancy belief among the 1,000-plus travelling fans in the corner of the ground was high, and it seemed that way on the pitch too. But one poor Mark Little clearance later, and it was the Forest support in full voice as Worral swept home from the penalty spot as Wanderers failed to clear Walker’s cross.
Parkinson went three at the back in an effort to chase the game but the team failed to respond, losing all the penetration they had in the wider areas. Forest picked them off for a third, Liam Bridcutt slicing through with a great pass to sub Ben Brereton, who outpaced Burke before stabbing the ball under the advancing Ben Alnwick.
Aaron Wilbraham’s presence on the bench – or rather Adam Le Fondre’s absence – had been a major talking point before kick-off. Intended to take the physical burden off Madine, his introduction as a second target man two minutes before the end seemed a desperation move but actually served to hem Forest in.
Wanderers went ultra-direct and forced a second when Karl Henry’s shot was blocked and turned back in by Wilbraham, bouncing off the unfortunate Worrall and into the net.
For a couple of moments after the goal the home side was worried but ref Darren England soon came to their rescue with the final whistle.
Wanderers must shrug off any lasting disappointment before this weekend’s visit of Burton Albion – a must-win in anyone’s book – but Parkinson may reflect on how a different tactical approach very nearly came off.
The wait for a win at the City Ground will stretch into a 17th year.
Source
Recovering from a haphazard opening 15 minutes, Phil Parkinson’s side pieced together one of their more convincing 45 minutes of football this season either side of the break. Will Buckley bravely headed them level but the wastefulness of Gary Madine and Josh Vela early in the second half came back to bite them on the behind.
Once Forest regained their lead the response was timid, frustratingly so, aside for a frantic finale when Aaron Wilbraham’s muscle forced Joe Worrall to slide the ball into his own net.
Buckley – whose easy-on-the-eye running had been a feature of Wanderers’ dominance – summed it up rather bluntly as the players departed the City Ground bound for their Christmas party.
“They definitely would have crumbled because we were so far on top. We had a few chances – Josh’s header was probably just a little bit too high for him, and Gaz had a good one as well,” he said.
“You have to be in those areas to score but we didn’t take them.
“Then we’re disappointed with the manner we conceded the goals.
“We’d been on top for a good 15 minutes and that’s the most disappointing thing. We’d dominated the second half and it was such a shock we stopped playing for another 15 minutes and let ourselves down.”
Wanderers have happened across a formula which – Molineux aside – has given them a chance in every game for the last couple of months. Some subtle tweaks have been made, including Buckley’s introduction on the left, but Parkinson made a bold tactical decision by sticking with Reece Burke ahead of the returning David Wheater.
Only Reading and Fulham have had more possession than Forest in the Championship this season but the inclusion of the West Ham youngster, so comfortable with the ball at his feet, allowed the Whites to carve it up 50-50.
Wanderers’ use of the ball at the City Ground was as good as it has been since they returned to this level of football and though the result went against them in the end, it was a tantalising glimpse of a team which can do something more than hit a target man and play from there.
Forest’s skilful front line must be a joy to watch in full flow, and it is little wonder Zach Clough is finding regular football so hard to come by. Yet a bright start from Ty Walker, Keiran Dowell and Barrie McKay dried up after Mark Warburton’s side had seized the lead.
McKay did the honours, sliding in Walker’s low cross from the right. The speed at which Forest were breaking at that stage of the game made you fear for Bolton’s well-being.
Yet gradually the Whites started to win their battles. Antonee Robinson, Sammy Ameobi and Buckley himself recovered from a sloppy start in possession to put the home side on the back foot and change the festive mood which had built up on a crisp December afternoon.
An equaliser was thoroughly deserved. Josh Vela raced on to Ameobi’s pass to dig a fine cross out from the right and Buckley dived to head the ball at satisfying full length over the line from close range.
From there, Wanderers really should have gone on to build an unassailable lead.
Madine got great contact on a head from Vela’s corner shortly after the restart but angled his effort just wide of the post. And moments later, Vela failed to climb the extra inch needed to divert Buckley’s centre into the net, rather than over the bar.
With their side in the ascendancy belief among the 1,000-plus travelling fans in the corner of the ground was high, and it seemed that way on the pitch too. But one poor Mark Little clearance later, and it was the Forest support in full voice as Worral swept home from the penalty spot as Wanderers failed to clear Walker’s cross.
Parkinson went three at the back in an effort to chase the game but the team failed to respond, losing all the penetration they had in the wider areas. Forest picked them off for a third, Liam Bridcutt slicing through with a great pass to sub Ben Brereton, who outpaced Burke before stabbing the ball under the advancing Ben Alnwick.
Aaron Wilbraham’s presence on the bench – or rather Adam Le Fondre’s absence – had been a major talking point before kick-off. Intended to take the physical burden off Madine, his introduction as a second target man two minutes before the end seemed a desperation move but actually served to hem Forest in.
Wanderers went ultra-direct and forced a second when Karl Henry’s shot was blocked and turned back in by Wilbraham, bouncing off the unfortunate Worrall and into the net.
For a couple of moments after the goal the home side was worried but ref Darren England soon came to their rescue with the final whistle.
Wanderers must shrug off any lasting disappointment before this weekend’s visit of Burton Albion – a must-win in anyone’s book – but Parkinson may reflect on how a different tactical approach very nearly came off.
The wait for a win at the City Ground will stretch into a 17th year.
Source