Forest fall short in European shoot-out

Since Premier League football was earned after 23 years in EFL obscurity, where seasons faded before they got going, the City Ground faithful have got used to a big final day finale, with everything still to play for!

Forest’s first two campaigns back in the big time ended in relegation battles that went down to the wire, by hook or by crook, they survived! At the third time of asking, they fought until the end, this time to earn a European place for the first time in 30 years.

In possession of Conference League, a win would have seen them leapfrog Chelsea into the Europa League spot. A win, with results elsewhere going their way, would have seen Champions League football achieved. Almost as unthinkable as the miracle that saw The Red’s become twice European Champions, back-to-back. That was BC!

For much of the season, the miracle was on! A place at European football’s top table seemed a probability, more than a mere possibility. That was until, as they did against their high value opponents from The King’s Road, Forest ultimately ran out of steam.

Mirroring the season to date, in an atmosphere worthy of Tuesday’s evening hosting Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Lazio or Roma, Forest started the game strong. Intent, along with pragmatism from the visitors, with everything to gain Forest were the aggressors – without inflicting what could have been the all-important first blow. 

Light up front, in the absence of Nicholas Jackson, Chelsea allowed ‘Nunoball’ to prevail. Milenkovic and Murillo were afforded time to build patiently from the back. Sangare was dominating the midfield. When on, they looked to exploit gaps, with quick and concise balls, bypassing Chelsea’s talented ball players in midfield.

Relentlessly seeking out talisman Morgan Giggs-White, the hope was he would break the lines with a killer pass, into clinical 20-goal hotshot Chris Wood, or by hitting the space in behind created by Anthony Elanga’s devastating pace. Despite resilience in their perseverance, neither option crafted a clearcut opportunity.

In not doing so, Chelsea grew into the game, creating the game’s first genuine chance on the half hour mark. Neto, fulfilling Jackson’s role, found space in the box. Cutting across a ball whipped in from the right, he sliced an effort narrowly over the bar. Forest maintained a degree of control. With an almost identical attempt on the stroke of half-time, Wood latched onto Aina’s pinpoint cross, resulting in the other crossbar being cleared.

Had that gone in, the teas in the changing rooms and the beers on the concourse would have tasted much sweeter, perhaps fuelling another concerted effort when the players returned to the arena! The atmosphere would have cranked up to a whole new level.

Chelsea had other ideas.

For their passiveness in the opening exchanges, they returned from the break looking to silence the crowd by securing Champions League football for themselves. Cole Palmer, somewhat subdued until this point, grabbed hold of the game. For five minutes, the star of the show – the game changer!

His energy and single-mindedness dragged Chelsea onto the front foot. A series of driving runs earned a prolonged spell deep in Forest territory. With nerves setting in, Palmer forced Forest to concede an unnecessary corner. Failing to clear a loose ball, it returned to him, he angled a pass into a Cucurella run into the penalty area, who in turn squared for the advancing Levi Colwill, to tap in at the unguarded far post. An area that’s been an Achilles heel to Forest many times during their less productive run-in.

In a twist of fate, it was during a playoff final whilst on-loan at Huddersfield Town, Colwill scored a decisive own goal that catapulted Forest back to a point where they are once again fighting it out with English football’s elite. This game has a habit of what goes around, often comes around. That moment wasn’t lost in the post-match celebrations.

In response to going behind, Nuno threw on ex-blue Callum Hudson-Odoi. Struggling to shake off injury, he couldn’t make a mark on a game that was beginning to drift away. Forest lacked further exciting attacking options from bench. 

Unable to muster up a period of sustained pressure and with Chelsea seemingly aware of results elsewhere, the visitors knew their job was almost done. They sat deep and deployed the repertoire of dark arts tactics that is part and parcel of modern football, to secure victory from a narrow winning position.

A renewed effort, roared on by the now hopeful rather than expectant crowd, after the 4th official declared eight minutes of injury-time, saw Forest falter one last time. Wood, having peeled off the back of Colwill, blasted the ball high into the Trent End. In doing so, it condemned Forest to a defeat and a final day of ‘what could have beens’.

An equaliser would have seen midweek nights on Trentside upgraded to the Europa League level of opponents due to Aston Villa’s shortcomings at Old Trafford. That would have been considered a huge gain on a largely frustrating day. More than Forest set out with pre-match, regardless they have exceeded all expectations, when before a ball had been kicked last August many pundits thought it would be third time unlucky in the relegation stakes.

As the full-time results filtered in, nerves had obviously affected all those vying for coveted prizes. Forest had to settle for a credible 7th place finish, Chelsea climbed to 3rd. The visitors, their entourage and Colwill danced away in celebration in front of their awoken Bridgford End following.

Had Forest taken advantage of all that early possession, final whistle scenes could have been of sheer disbelief and immeasurable joy, not just the acceptance and appreciation of just how far they have come!