Three points clear at the top of the Championship in the midst of the worst injury crisis most City fans can recall.
In terms of Daniel Farke’s achievements since his arrival here in May 2017, I’d argue this particular one tops the lot.
To have prepared, cajoled, nurtured and steered this stricken group through the choppiest, most hostile of waters imaginable and yet still see them lead the pack has been an outstanding effort.
The common consensus seems to be that having reached the summit in these most trying of circumstances, the arrival of reinforcements in the next few weeks should see us push on; maybe put some clean water between ourselves and some of the pretenders, but while that theory works on paper, this is the Championship.
Farke and his team know the challenges come thick and fast in what must be the most brutal league in world football, and while today and tomorrow is all about getting eleven suitably refreshed bodies (and minds) onto the pitch, further down the track it will be about rediscovering those winning permutations from their embarrassment of riches.
The task, while different, will be no less challenging than the one they are managing right now. The goal remains the same.
Understandably, the sheer beauty of City’s last promotion campaign seems a distant memory at the moment, but last night there was something equally satisfying in the way they dug in when the chips were down and again ground out three points when it looked impossible.
Forest were limited in the first half, even if they did create the most clear-cut chances, but played well after the break and asked questions aplenty.
Chris Hughton’s men looked lively and dangerous compared to a leggy City team that’s been pretty much constant over the last few games through necessity, and there were few complaints when Anthony Knockaert’s cross drifted painfully inside Michael McGovern’s far post for the leveller.
Despite City controlling the first half and having found that pleasing passing rhythm that often accompanies the presence of Mario Vrancic, clear-cut chances were scarce, and only when the tempo was upped did we look likely to break the Hughton code.
In the end it was fitting that, after intelligently releasing Marco Stiepermann in the inside channel, Jacob Sorensen would round off another solid half in an unfamiliar position with a crisp finish.
While the young Dane will never be a bona fide left-back, the job he has done for his coach in trying circumstances has been outstanding, and all while showing maturity and poise in a frantic type of football that’s alien to him.
Whether he gets the chance to show us these same skills in his preferred position remains to be seen – it’s a crowded field in the centre of that City midfield – but he’s certainly earned a shot.
The positive spin is that without a left-back crisis his game time would have ranged from limited to zero. He’s played himself into the forefront of Farke’s thoughts.
The Forest equaliser was no great shock given the way the second-half had evolved but it was the double change from Farke in the four minutes between Knockaert’s goal and Emi Buendia’s winner that proved decisive.
The fresh legs of Alex Tettey and Todd Cantwell worked to greater effect than even Farke could have imagined; the latter in particular showing a hunger borne of a few frustrating weeks watching from the sidelines.
The change gave City an extra ten per cent, enough to wrestle the initiative back for few minutes; enough time for Emi Buendia to do Emi Buendia things, even if it did take a fortuitous deflection off the head of Joe Worrall to seal the deal.
What followed was not pretty but if grit, endeavour and fearlessness are among the qualities needed to win promotion, then this group has more than a chance.
City teams of yesteryear would have buckled under the Forest onslaught, but with Grant Hanley leading by example at the heart of a defence that refused to be bowed, three of the most hard-earned points of the season were snaffled away from under Hughton’s nose.
The post-match reporting told of City being lucky and of Forest being deserving of far more than they achieved – a view echoed by the Sky red button commentator – but these narrow, eleventh-hour wins don’t happen by chance.
From being a group that a few months ago had forgotten how to win, they now refuse to be beaten. One defeat in ten games, however fortuitous some make us out to be, just doesn’t happen through good luck alone.
We’re a good side, albeit one that’s being tested to its limit, and we lead a division despite being shorn of the equivalent of a whole team. We have no recognised left-backs, we played two games without a recognised striker and still we kept our heads above water and some.
There’s plenty to be proud of right now.
On the Ball City
I totally agree that this is Farke’s finest hour. The refresh of the squad in the Summer has worked really well. Two tough games away to Blackburn and Reading coming up. One loss in 13 games and 9 wins and 3 draws. If we keep that going for the rest of the season we are going up.
Let’s hope the transfer window is very quiet. The way Emi is playing I cN see him getting a big money move.
A very entertaining read Gary, a definite case of ends justifying the means.
The massive boost of a goal on the stroke of half time had the opposite effect to that I was expecting. Almost immediately, from pukki restarting the game from the kick off, we were on the back foot. The energy appeared to have drained from our legs and the visitors began to dominate the ball.
The goal, when it came, was as ugly as it was predictable. It appeared that farke had delayed his substitutions until too late.,
Au contraire. The immediate appearance of cantwell and tettey infused the team with fresh energy and momentum. A stroke of luck reminiscent of Mcleans strike at Brentford from Buendia and the game was ours again.
Perhaps the main difference between last nighT and the Coventry match was the opportunity for farke to bring on fresh legs. Let’s all hope for more good news from the treatment room.
The way things have been going Gary, I seriously doubt we will ever see an “embarrassment of riches” within the squad. Sod’s law dictates that as a couple return, so some others will be struck down.
Credit to all for the win. I’d be ecstatic. With a draw on Saturday.
Very good point re the ’embarrassment of riches’ … no doubt the return of a few fit bodies will be met by a second wave! Just my rose-tinted view 🙂
I now know more about Forest and their recent history than I ever thought I would (or would want to) thanks to the Sky red button commentator. I presume he was wearing their full kit last night. It got to the point when I was starting to wonder who the other eleven players were on the pitch, he had so little to say about them. I would have muted him and had the Radio Norfolk commentary on, but I knew it would be ahead of the TV. At one point, he even told us Jamal Lewis was breaking forwards for us. I hadn’t realised he’d come back.
All in all, three points well earned (and deserved). We’re going to have to get used to teams parking a fleet of buses and hoping for a quick breakaway from time to time. It’s a good job we’ve got players with the will and skill to do that.
Have to remind myself that we’re still only just over a third of the way through the seating. Yet, despite all that’s been thrown at us (and other teams to be fair) NCFC are the first team to record ten wins this season. If some consider us fortuitous to win last night, they’re ignoring the bigger picture.
*season
Grant Hanley was absolutely immense last night. Comfortably the best defender in this league at the moment. Buendia and Sorensen might get the headlines, and Vrancic looked his usual silky smooth self but that win was built on Hanley’s shoulders.
He goes back to his former club on Saturday – another performance like that and it will be another 3 points in the bank.
Nicely put together Gary. Luck and injuries depending, this squad is easily good enough to storm this division. Taking into account all the other candidates, it really is there for NCFC to win. Slowly does it, for me, gradually building momentum and running on well from March.
Hi Gary
A good summary on ladt nights game 🎮.
The Red Button watch may not be the greatest medium to see a game but at least it allows us to view our team even and with most commentators the boo boos come think and fast due I would think to lack of preparation prior to the game.
As most have commented on this was as expected a hard fought game and city just might have deserved it but for once the last 15mins was a battle royal and City lost their composure on the ball.
There was no one to put their foot on the ball and control it we lost our ability to get ot win the second ball and it kept come back but we withstood the pressure so on to Saturday and we now have a bench worthy of the name.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy 🙏
Interesting how post-match reports and comments all mention the “lucky” deflection – but not the penalty we weren’t given in the first half. It’s not easy to spot first time at speed, and at pitch level Pukki was probably obscuring the ref’s view. But those very close by were immediately convinced. There was what looked like an amicable little conversation between Pukki and one of the Forest defenders who had a wry smile suggesting he knew they’d got away with one.
We’re in a great position all things considered but one thing strikes me. In the last 2 games we’ve seen top class crossing from several opponents – Reach, Lolley, Knockheart – and it is one thing we seem short of. I guess because we’re all prods and flicks and dinky little through balls it’s not something they practice so much. Buendia nearly fluked one from a corner and of course we know Vrancic can go direct from free kicks. But generally I get the feeling that when we’re out wide our opponents are not exactly quivering in their boots.
Good point. To be fair though, the abject performance of referees and officials is almost taken for granted. Contrast last nights “penalty” with lutons ludicrous award last week!
I had the privilege of attending last night. We are a good side but boy did we look shot after 60 mins. Forest had one more of attack – down the right wing – and it was always going to yield something. But a good test for us nonetheless.
Gary you’d have been proud of the guy shouting “FORWARD!” three minutes into the game as Grant Hanley passed sideways. Some things never change, and in a funny way it was kinda comforting…
Ha! I’ll be honest, I’d literally give anything to hear that bloke in the River End yell “BOOT…” as Hanley, Zimbo & McGovern play a neat, nerve-jangling little triangle.
I find Krul better at the triangle. He’s a far superior musician to McGovern on that particular instrument.
😀 Unquestionably!