Norwich Vs Forest Preview

Norwich Vs Forest Preview
Ko 7:45 15/4/11
Watch: extended highlights on the football league show, Live on Sky from 7:30
Listen: 5 live, Local Radio

If Norwich fail to win this game and Swansea fail to win theres against Burnley and QPR win there game Monday night against Derby County QPR's Promotion will be confirmed

Norwich Team News
Grant Holt is 50/50 for the game after a minor hamstring injury recieved against watford tuesday night and will face a late fitness test.Korey Smith should return from an eye infection which kept him out of the game on saturday. Chris Martin will not be involved in first team action until after there has been a reserves fixture arranged for him to play in but travelled with the squad to watford tuesday night. Wes Hoolahan could also return to the squad

possible starting 11
Ruddy,R.Martin,Ward,Whitbread,Tierney,Crofts,Fox,Lansbury,Pacheco,Vokes,Jackson

Notes from Press conference
PL: Nobody expected what we've done so far. We're loving it and we're going to do everything we can. Lads and the crowd have been incredible
Crofts surrounded by the media. 'We're enjoying every minute of it. We can't wait for tomorrow' http://yfrog.com/gzhxdrwj

Forest Team News
Nottingham Forest are still without midfielder Chris Cohen, who is serving a three-match ban.
Striker Robbie Findley is close to completing his recovery from a thigh injury, but this game comes too soon for him.

Possible starting 11
Camp,Molony,Morgan,Chambers,Konchesky,Mcgugan,Moussi,McCleary,Tudgay,Earnshaw

Last Meeting-was a 1-1 Draw between the 2 sides in the opening month of the season at the City Ground

Last Game at Carrow Road- was a narrow 3-2 win for forest in December 2008

Current Records

Norwich City
Norwich City are in decent form at home, having won four and drawn two of their last six games, These high-scoring games have yielded a total of 15 goals for the Canaries, with just 5 goals against.
Norwich City are just outside the promotion places, in 3rd, having taken 71 points from 41 games.
Unbeaten in the last 7 home games.
Not won in the 2 most recent games.

Forest
In complete contrast to Norwich City, Nottingham Forest are having a torrid time on their travels, managing a paltry 2 draws from the last six matches. While the Forest have hit 5 goals, 11 have hit the back of the wrong net.
Forest lie just outside the playoff positions in the Npower Championship, picking up 63 from their 41 games so far
Lost each of the previous 3 away matches.
Not won in previous 7 away matches.
Last drawn game 5 outings ago.

Officials
N D SWARBRICK
M Blackledge,T Mason
4th Official- A P D'urso
Assessor- D J Gallagher

Match Odds from 888bet.com
Home win (Norwich) 10/11
Draw 12/5
Away win (Forest) 11/4

Good victory Tooze, I feel the Swans will slip up today, not good travellers

i hope this is the result that has turned the season round again. i think both the welsh teams could slip up to be honest today as niether have very easy games

Tooze will get a blether with u when the chat opens mate

Great result last night it was two going on four

Match Review
from http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich_city_2_nottingham_forest_1_1_867813

Norwich City picked up a priceless three points in a exhilarating victory over an impressive Nottingham Forest at Carrow Road.

In a way, it was a shame only the final score really mattered on an evening of fantastic football fare.

Or maybe that is only a sentiment for Forest fans, who saw their side probe with a style not often seen at Carrow Road over the last two seasons.

As for the City faithful, they would have taken a scrappy 1-0 win. At this stage of the season, it’s the minimum requirement.

Factor in the Canaries kicking off a day ahead of their promotion rivals as the Sky cameras came calling again, and the result could not have taken on any more significance.

Yet every one of the 26,188 fans crammed into a buzzing Carrow Road was treated to exactly that – a football treat.

The buzz was helped by the team-sheets, as City welcomed back Wes Hoolahan from a two-game absence.

In fact, physio Neal Reynolds clearly has the knack of curing hamstring strains – with influential skipper Grant Holt also recovering just in time for City’s early weekend. Loanees Sam Vokes and Dani Pacheco made way.

Forest made three changes of their own, with Nathan Tyson, David McGoldrick and Kris Byod recalled into a rejigged formation that matched up City’s diamond midfield.

It is not only results that count at this stage of the season, of course, but luck too.

City were looking for their first win in three – but after three minutes would have rightly questioned whether the football gods had it in for them for this particular run-in as the hard working Tyson scored a fluke of an opener.

Maybe City goalkeeper John Ruddy could have side-footed the aimless long ball Tyson was chasing down – but that would have required hindsight.

What Carrow Road witnessed was the keeper smash the ball into Tyson’s thigh – 99 times out of 100, the ball loops into the stand.

But this was the exception, as the ball arrowed for Ruddy’s unguarded net and Carrow Road almost choked on the cool evening air.

The sight of Tyson completing a couple of pirouettes as he looked for the ball before wheeling off to celebrate said it all.

It was a blow that could have knocked a side with insecurities for six – especially at a time in the season when wobbles are all the rage. But not this Canaries’ side – they are made of sterner stuff.

Simeon Jackson, handed a rare start following his equaliser at Watford in midweek, was causing problems with his pace – while City’s first corner brought loud and extremely reasonable appeals for a penalty as Wes Morgan took to the floor and blocked Elliott Ward’s drive with his arm.

However, City were level with only 10 minutes on the clock. Hoolahan’s trickery earned a free-kick that David Fox whipped in from the right with delight. It was too good for the Forest defence, as Holt outjumped Guy Moussi and headed past a stranded Lee Camp and inside the far post.

His 20th league goals this season, and Carrow Road sighed in relief.

Back came Forest in a first half of high entertainment, driven by a player in Lewis McGugan who deserves top flight football – with or without Forest.

Brendan Maloney broke forward to drive low and wide of Ruddy’s near post as the visitors pressed and switched play with confidence.

Then it was City’s turn, Andrew Surman turning and clipping a delicate effort just beyond the far post, with Forest’s ex-City loanee wrong footed.

The game was a cracker – and City were just about edging it, if only on chances. McGugan toasted Martin on the by-line before City just about cleared the danger, seconds later and Jackson could only look on as Camp’s fingertips held the ball in the air long enough for him to recover – and prevent the in-form striker from tucking into an open goal.

Moussi was next to go close, rattling the inside of Ruddy’s post. Normally a hard luck story – but maybe repayment for Ruddy’s earlier misfortune.

Forest were looking to press – only for Boyd to slump in the centre circle with an injury. After minutes of treatment, the striker surprisingly continued – but the break seemed to knock the visitors’ attention, and Surman took full advantage.

Seven minutes before the break, Jackson’s brilliant leap found Holt and with Moloney and Moussi static, Surman ran through the gap and took one touch to coolly slot past the keeper.

Konchesky was booked for his arguments with the linesman – a call replays showed was correct, and a booking the full-back would come to regret, as he sliced through Surman in the dying moments to rightly receive his marching orders.

In truth, despite the nerves clearly in evidence around Carrow Road – no doubt inspired by this time of year – City kept Forest to a handful of half chances, as a pulsating game continued to intrigue. McGugan’s free-kick somehow reached Ruddy’s chest without a touch along the way, while Jackson found both Camp’s feet and the outside of his post as a well-deserved goal eluded him.

Tyson drove a decent chance well wide as time ticked away, while Holt was within a hair on his forehead of putting away Lansbury’s corner

Konchesky blocked Surman’s low drive – the defender’s last legitimate action of the evening, and more than five minutes of injury time were seen out with relative ease – a little out of character given such an absorbing Championship contest.

But in reality, the performance and impressive character still came second to the result. Which means Cardiff, Swansea and Reading – it’s over to you.


• Norwich City: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Ward, Whitbread, Tierney, Crofts, Fox (Lansbury, 60), Surman, Hoolahan (Lappin, 78), Holt, Jackson (Edwards, 90). Subs (not used): Rudd, McNamee, Vokes, Pacheco.

• Forest: Camp, Konchesky, Morgan, Chambers, Moloney, Moussi (Gunter, 50), McKenna, McGugan, McGoldrick, Tyson (Earnshaw, 73), Boyd (Tudgay, 45). Subs (not used): Darlow, Adebola, Majewski, Bennett.

• Attendance: 26,188

• Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire

Sponser Man Of the match-Grant Holt
Sky Man of the Match-Simeon Jackson