SOBS: FOREST

The Lads went to the banks of the Trent and...well, we're on our way, we're on our way, up the Premier, we're on our way. How do we get there I don't know how do we stay they're I don't care....

Actually, I do know. The one goal win was largely down to a masterclass of defensive organisation which was apparent from half five and maintained until the final whistle, with Alderete's first half goal making all the difference and outfits third in the division. Eat that, TV pundits! 

As we picked the team at the Oktoberfest in the Loose Cannon in Newark (don't ask) we shared our confidence that there was a point there for the taking, even without the silly Reinaldo and the injured Diarra.

Roefs

Hume Alderete Mukiele Masuaku 

Xhaka (c) Sadiki Rigg

Talbi Isidor Le Fee

..and a bench of Patterson, Brobbey, Traore, Adringa, Ballard, Mayenda, Geertruida, O'Nien, and Neil. 

In our smart blue kit, we attacked the Trent end, opposite our fans, and kicked off. For a Premier League change, the home fans were noisy - for a while, until they realised that we're no mugs as we won a very early corner on our right. We played it short and the home side got it away, but not for long. Talbi put a cross onto the roof of the net as we spent the opening five minutes camped in their half, before Forest applied a bit of pressure. We put a shot just wide of their right hand post just to remind them to beware, but spoiled things a bit with a Sadiki yellow for a foul on halfway - at least it stopped a Forest break.

On the half hour, Masuaku was carded for stopping another Forest break, but that wasn't a characteristic of our game, as we snuffed out whatever they tried to get to Wood - which was always from out wide. The free-kick was taken in typically confident style by Roefs, prompting the first Roefs On Fire shout of the afternoon/evening. Sadiki collected the ball on 35 minutes and drove forwards, having a shot blocked, then we won a free and Forest a yellow. Inside right, 30 yards out, birthday boy Xhaka curled it to the back post where Alderete did a bit of a Hume and swept it back across and in.

BOOOOOM! Gerrin, you beauty! Cue mayhem in the away end as we celebrated as if we'd won the league. Let's get carried away!  Our first goal this season that came before the break, and a just reward for organisation and calmness.

There were two added minutes which we played with our newly accustomed aplomb (not a word associated with us for a few years at football's top table) and we went into the break ahead - and nobody could deny that we were worth it.

The triumphant Nottinghamshire cricket team paraded their trophy to chants of "Durham Durham" (the less said about them the better) before getting sprinklered, then we were back out. 

One change for them, none for us. Roefs was there to collect an early home corner, then we were away through the middle with Issy, but his shot was blocked. Another Forest yellow arrived for a pull on the industrious Talbi, and Xhaka's free fell nicely for a shot which was blocked for a corner. That fell for Rigg, whose deflected effort was taken under the bar by the home keeper. 

Just before the hour, Masuaku then Rigg made way for Geertruida and Traore, with the latter going to the right. A spell of Forest pressure brought a fine low save from Roefs, but to be honest we were of the opinion that he'd stop anything they could hoy at him. The resulting corner brought a mad bout of head tennis before we whacked it away. Soon after that we burst the Forest pressure with a break down the left, which pinged its way across to the left, from where Traore's curly wifter was comfortably saved to the keeper's right. 

With 20 to go, Forest made another change, Roefs made another save, and on came Big Dan for Le Fee as Reg decided that defensive resilience was the sensible option for the final fifteen. A badly directed header at the back post by Woods had us roaring almost as much as when we hoyed the big Lads into the box for a corner and Dan splattered a couple. Brobbey replaced Issy for the final five of normal time, then Talbi made way for Adringa - just to keep the home defence on the back foot.

Forest gave up on Woods in the final minute, then six extra were announced. Four minutes into that, we relieved the pressure by setting Brobbey away, and he showed his strength with a burrowing barge to the penalty spot, where a Forest toe spoiled things. Still, we'd pushed them back and we defended the last two minutes like demons to claim our first Premier away win since Hull eight years back.

Man of the Match? Xhaka is always in the running for this, and Roefs came close (very close) but my choice is Alderete - organised the defence, broke when it was sensible to do so, was generally scary, and scored the winner. 

Feel free to disagree!