I then spent much of the second half reminding myself that the game had all the necessary qualities to be “just one of those days” and that we were extremely unlikely to score.

Tyson squandered two fantastic opportunities with his wayward heading, and Kris Commons shin-rolled a far post chance when he had looked certain to score.

I am extremely familiar with wanting a goal so much that it physically hurts, but very seldom do those goals actually come.

Pandemonium 

The goal triggered genuine pandemonium. The period of celebration can barely have been a minute, but it seemed to last an hour.

There was a lot to take in at once. The explosive joy of the players, which was difficult not to take pride in, the swaying mass of leaping Forest supporters, and the frustrated but curiously admiring gazes from Hartlepool supporters.

And underpinning it all was my own uncontrollable roaring, which continued until my head pounded and my lungs could stand no more.

Nobody could have guessed that we are a supporter group harbouring severe animosity for the management, as well as serious anxiety about the future of the club and the volume of its support.

As a group we delivered a fine lesson in support by blind faith, and for once we were rewarded.

Anxious 

The first half was relatively scrappy and we did little to take hold of the game, but we threatened more regularly than the home side and found ourselves under very little pressure.

In the second half I think the players were fully aware of Carlisle’s implosion and were far too anxious to score.

The Forest contingent were in fine voice, but it was only a mask for the panic and desperation that had gripped one and all.

Somewhat inevitably the performance took the same shape. The frenetic scramble for a goal prompted plenty of hard work, but also a great awareness that the margin for error had been slashed.

Calderwood, so often criticised for his negativity, realised that gung ho was the only approach but it still wasn’t quite working.

We needed a moment of brilliance and, courtesy of Lewis McGugan’s smart finish, we got it.

The odds are still heaped against us and I am fully braced for a disappointment next weekend. Moreover, I am concerned that any disappointment will have a hangover effect that will also drag us to our knees in the play-offs.

But this is life as a Forest fan and you all know the score. It’s that time again: whip yourselves into a frenzy and set yourselves up for a big fall.

You love it really.

Ratings

Smith – 7

Chambers – 7 – not always quick enough to react, but he had a lot of the ball and handled it well.

Wilson – 7.5 – recovered some of his trademark composure; hopefully the short break has done him some good.

Morgan – 7.5 – solid stuff from the player of the season.

Lockwood – 5 – lacking in confidence and prone to errors.

Clingan – 5.5 – his steady crab football is sometimes necessary, but when you need action it tends to be excruciating.

Perch – 6 – rolled up his sleeves and did a lot of the dirty work, but will never be able to understand him starting a game whilst Kris Commons and Lewis McGugan warm the bench.

Cohen – 7.5 – the hardest working man in England?

McCleary – 7 – drifted in and out of the game; he definitely needs to learn to do the simple things as well as the special ones. His fleeting contributions were absolutely vital though, and he played a number of good balls into the box.

Ormerod – 7 – box-to-box, but struggled to make it happen in the final third.

Tyson – 7 – spurned a few great chances, but his pace was a fantastic weapon.

Subs:

Commons – 8 – missed a great chance, but when he puts the work in he really is a special talent.

McGugan – 7 – cracking goal, how crucial will it be?

Davies – 7

Come on Cheltenham!

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