For most Forest supporters the distant dream of automatic promotion died quite some time ago.

Now the baseless fantasies of our increasingly deluded manager have finally been ended too, and with them so should his disastrous spell as manager.

This afternoon Colin Calderwood challenged his side to deliver eight victories from the remaining eight games, he promised an “excellent game of football” in a “genuine must win game”.

Given that this was his attitude, this evening’s events are almost unbelievable.

In a total of 95 minutes we forged just one opportunity and not a single shot on target. Doncaster passed the ball confidently and attacked with purpose; they were well-marshalled, hard-working, and clearly the better side.

Feeble 

After the fighting talk in the pre-match media, Calderwood lined up in a cagey 5-3-2. The aim: to stake out the opponent and possibly steal a winner. The outcome: a feeble anti-climax.

What hit home tonight is that not only are we a chasm away from second spot, but we fully deserve to be.

Doncaster Rovers are a far better side than Forest under Calderwood, and the game would have been over much sooner were it not for some poor finishing and several smart saves from Smith.

Their support is underwhelming, relatively speaking, but everything else indicates that this is a club on the up.

The Keepmoat stadium is not a work of art, but it is a spacious and sensibly-structured stadium. Their team is organised and confident.

We should not forget that this is a football club that found itself playing football at semi-professional level as recently as 2003.

Champions

The stadium announcer, who sounded remarkably like Matt Lucas’ book-shop owner in the Little Britain series, was extremely kind to Forest.

He welcomed our supporters and spoke of their delight at entertaining “such a great club”; “the twice champions of Europe”.

But for all of our history and former glories, how I long for Nottingham Forest to be a family club that is going places instead of a perpetual sinking ship; festering under waves of bitterness and discontentment.

The calls for Calderwood’s head were as audible tonight as they are ever going to be. Anguished cries of “Out, Out, Out” were followed by a heartfelt chorus of “We’re sh*t, and we’re sick of it”.

I don’t understand how he can possibly have the gall to remain where he is so unwanted, furthermore I cannot begin to comprehend what Nigel Doughty thinks he is gaining by keeping the man in a job.

We have comfortably reached a point whereby Calderwood will never have the backing of the supporters.

Malcontents

Even if he defies the odds and leads the side to promotion via the play-offs there are droves who will never accept him. So why is he still our ‘manager’?

A year ago we took a healthy following down to Brentford, where thousands demanded Colin’s head. In twelve months nothing has changed, only more people have joined the malcontents. So why is he still our ‘manager’?

If I could have just a two minute conversation with chairman Doughty I would implore the man to remove Colin and at least give us a fighting chance.

There is no way this broken and clueless man can lead a side to promotion.

Calderwood Out, Save Our Club.

Ratings:

Smith – 7.5 – his saves made it a contest, albeit superficially.

Chambers – 5

Morgan – 6

Breckin – 6

Wilson – 6

Bennett – 6 – plenty of hard work, as per usual, but it’s not enough on its own. How people can nominate him as player of the season when he spoons seven crosses per match into the stand I have absolutely no idea.

Clingan - 6

Thornhill - 5

Cohen – 5

Tyson – 5 – our gameplan relied on ‘hit and hope’ balls for Tyson, but they were so poor there was absolutely nothing he could do.

Ormerod – 6.5 – dropped deep and tried to get the passes going, hopefully his injury isn’t too serious. That said, I bet he can’t wait to get back to warming that bench at Preston.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• The Empty Ground
• Loan Keeper Crocked - Dimi's Out After One Session
• Forest 0-0 Brighton - Play-Offs Inevitable

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes