Nottingham Forest - 4 (Prutton 17. John 22. 78. Harewood 72.)
Crystal Palace - 2 (Freedman 27. 49.)

As this game was about to get underway a huge downpour hit, which really added to all the water the groundstaff had put on the pitch just an hour or so before the game. The rain continued for most of the game, though there were periods of fine weather, short though they may have been. Still, it was the same for both sides to contend, so on with the game.

Dougie Freedman found himself named skipper for this match against his old team, and it obviously inspired him to great things during the course of the afternoon. The initial exchanges seemed to take the ball from one end of the ground to the other, with neither side looking particularly menacing. It must be admitted though that the longer the match went on the more possession seemed to be with Forest, and the more concerning this became for the ardent Palace follower.

Marlon Harewood had a looping shot that just managed to clear the bar, then Stern John, the Trinidad and Tobago international hit a shot that would have rocked the back of the net had it been on target. A good run by Jim Brennan was brought to an end by a good reflex move by Alex Kolinko, before Dougie managed a run at the defence, not quite making his way through to the goal.

The pressure was bound to tell, and it was a cross from Mathieu Louis-Jean that finally broke the Palace defence. Despite a packed goalmouth David Prutton managed to sneak in at the back, and he headed the ball into the back of the net despite the fact that Alex got a touch on the ball. Within five minutes the lead was doubled in an almost repeat movement; John was the man who stole in at the back post, but Alex did not even manage to get a hand on the ball this time, and suddenly we were 2-0 down.

A handball by Dougie broke down one promising Palace move before Clinton Morrison was adjudged to be offside in a marginal decision, to be very kind to the referee. We did eventually though manage to force a corner due mainly to the wiles of Aki Riihilahti, and the cross taken by Julian Gray was floated in for Dougie to rise at the back and pull one goal back, and stop Forest in their tracks.

Harewood once again managed a free run at Palace's defence, but Tony Popovic was quick enough to cut out any danger, albeit at the expense of a corner to our hosts. Julian then made a great run straight down the middle of the park before his cross found Tommy Black. Clinton met his shot into the goalmouth, but instead of his customary trickery in front of goal we were treated to the sight of him fluffing his move, and Forest maintained their lead.

Steve Thomson then managed to hit a volley which smashed into the post when the Palace faithful thought that it was going into the back of the net, and then Palace nearly fell for the same trick a third time, though somehow a defender at the back saw it coming this time and headed the ball away to safety. Gregg Berhalter then shot wide from a free kick before Black hit a shot that went out for a corner. A good cross from this nearly found Tony, what a great maiden goal that would have been.

Darren Ward then managed to palm away another shot from Tommy, before Alex repeated the feat at the other end, this time getting to the ball at the feet of the advancing Harewood.

It was certainly a brave move by our keeper, but the man should never have been allowed there in the first place. We really must do something about shoring up the defence. The whistle finally sounded, and though we went in behind at the break we could take solace from the fact that we had finished the stronger of the two sides, and things looked good for what is now becoming our customary second half comeback.

A good shot from Chris Bart-Williams kicked off the second stanza of play, but Alex was quick enough to avert any real danger. A break down the right hand side saw Clinton put in a good cross that just failed to find Aki and Dougie, who were both waiting in the goalmouth. Shortly after though Dougie managed to once again get through the defence, this time taking the ball with him and not relying on a cross. He found himself one on one with the keeper, and shooting to the keeper's right he found the back of the net, to record his second of the day and put the game back on an even keel.

Aki was brought down in the area shortly after this, but the official waved away any penalty appeal. A free kick though did see Clinton narrowly miss the target, and it looked only a matter of time before we would go on and take the lead. At the other end though Forest were not giving up either, Prutton getting a shot all wrong at the last moment which could have given our hosts the lead once more.

A great run by Harewood found John in the middle of the goalmouth scramble, but somehow his shot ballooned over the top when from his position close to the goalmouth it seemed far easier to score than to hit the ball in a manner like that. Clinton then put the home defence under pressure, but the keeper was equal to the task, at least on this occasion.

The match then settled into very much a one end of the field to the other affair, with both sides being guilty of missing innumerable chances to put the game out of the reach of the other. Something had to give, and it was Palace's defence that cracked first, leaving Harewood the task of firing in a good ball that found the top of the goal, leaving Alex no chance whatsoever.

A few quick substitutions came from both sides, but still Palace could not find yet another equaliser, and it appeared as though this was going to be the final score.

Palace did though make a few advances on goal, but this simply had the effect of leaving things a little bare at the back. Andrejs Rubins, Simon Rodger and Jovan Kirovski all looked impressive without really threatening the home defences, and just when we thought it was all over Stern John made absolutely sure of things with a final strike that must now give Steve Bruce thoughts of a possible replacement for our beleaguered keeper. It seems fairly obvious that his confidence is currently at a very low ebb, and a rest at this time may well give his Palace, and International, career a real tonic. Over to you, Steve.

Colin Pryce

Nottingham Forest: Darren Ward, Mathieu Louis-Jean, Jon Olav Hjelde, Chris Doig, Jim Brennan, David Prutton, Gareth Williams, Chris Bart-Williams (Andy Johnson 76), Jermaine Jenas, Stern John (Andy Reid 90), Marlon Harewood (Jack Lester 88).

Substitutes not used: Barry Roche, Christian Edwards.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Jamie Smith, Gregg Berhalter, Tony Popovic (Jovan Kirovski 83), Hayden Mullins, Steve Thomson (Andrejs Rubins 76), Aki Riihilahti, Julian Gray, Tommy Black (Simon Rodger 70), Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison.

Substitutes not used: Matthew Gregg, Dean Austin.

Attendance: 18,239

Referee: Mr P Richards (Preston)