By The Daily Red
January 13 2008

The expression ‘the result flattered them’ was probably written for, and because of, games like today’s. There is no doubt that Orient were comprehensively beaten and that Forest deserved to win. But Grant Holt’s theatrics, and our visitors’ failure to turn chances into goals, were paramount to our victory

A resounding home win and a place in the top two would be enough for most football supporters to set aside their anxieties, at least for an evening. Alas, as a Forest fan I find it difficult to let my guard down.

I am concerned that the excellent Grant Holt, who played well for the first time this season, will have convinced Colin and company that the need for additional firepower is less than first thought.

Equally I am concerned that Grant Holt will respond to any renewed efforts to dip into the market by receding into the moody slump that had limited him to one goal in over 20 games before today.

I am also slightly concerned that Colin will do something bizarre next weekend. For instance, keeping the same back four as a ‘reward’ for their clean sheet.

But these are the occasions on which, as football supporters, we are supposed to adorn ourselves with rose-tinted spectacles and express our blind optimism.

So then, positivity. I thought we counter-attacked with real menace in the second half and frequently looked not only capable to score, but likely to do so.

The three central midfielders covered a lot of ground and didn’t let the opposition settle. And towards the end we kept possession with exceptional competence - ostentatiously at times, but at 3-0 that qualifies as dominance.

At one stage Orient were comfortably on top and, had they taken any of their chances, it could have been a different game entirely.

They started the second half with real determination and Holt’s penalty-winning dive [contact was minimal, at the most] was a key turning point. After the second we coasted, and any chances they had were courtesy of a Forest defence that was – at times – quite slack.

This is an excellent result against a good side, but the challenge now is to put together a genuine winning streak and start playing like champions.

Swansea have outclassed us already this season and will stay the distance, Leeds meanwhile are marching towards automatic promotion with unbreakable momentum – and they have strengthened the side considerably since the window opened.

It is going to take a mammoth effort to avoid being sucked into the play-offs. There can be no relent, and results like this must become something of a norm on home turf.

Smith – 8.5 – several smart saves, improved distribution, and the most confident he has looked on dealing with crosses since joining the club. Either this was a flash in the pan, or Barry Richardson is a magician.

Perch – 6 – played with none of the energy or freedom that earned him another chance at the right-back position. Started reasonably but was caught out a few times, and looked considerably less comfortable than Chambers does in the same role.

Morgan – 8 – rock solid; Morgan at his best. His display was epitomised with a late block and powerful lunge to protect the clean sheet. If he isn’t alongside Kelvin Wilson next weekend, Colin needs throttling.

Breckin – 5 – a poor performance. Rolled out the red carpet for their forward on more than one occasion and let them creep in behind him with apparent ease. Of course he’s good in the air and he’s experienced, but he’s yards off the pace.

Lockwood – 7 – probably his best all-round appearance since signing for the club. His strengths and weaknesses are obvious enough already: he gets forward well, but is often ignored when in acres of space. He struggles to deal with quick counter attacks.

Davies – 6 – probably the most involved he has been in a game since returning to fitness. Showed, in flashes, what a lot of us were always hoping he would provide – confident attacking, good shooting, expert vision…but he spends far too much of each game floating around aimlessly.

Clingan – 6.5 – not his best game in possession but I thought he worked hard and had a fairly good game.

McGugan – 6.5 – grew into the game and eventually rolled his sleeves up, but I thought he was trying to over-complicate things early on. It’s inevitable with a talented young player – he will learn.

Cohen – 7 – plenty of running, and his determination to stay in an advanced role certainly helped with the system we were playing.

Commons – 7 – always a threat, especially when he was on the left wing. Why Calderwood persists with his ridiculous practise of switching the wingers I have no idea. Spent 5 minutes of the first half on the left wing and promptly drilled in a cracking ball that Holt should have converted. Took his goal superbly.

Holt – 8 – played the role brilliantly and held the ball up well. But Grant, where have you been all season?

Subs:

Sinclair – 7 – looks a good footballer and has clearly been taught 'the Forest way', but he is also very lightweight and runs like a chicken. Not a 20-goals-per-season man, as they say…

Thornhill – 7 – lovely back-heel to create a chance, and a goal (despite doing his best to cock it up).

Chambers – 6 –

Cheers to Wian for a great Alternative Report.