What a shame we didn't sell the whole South End and the corner of the East Stand to Forest, the South End was a long way from being full and I think the club missed out on a bumper payday.
Forest kicked off attacking the North Stand and threatened early on with Stewart having to save from the lively David Johnson. O'Driscoll went with a 5-3-1-1 or was 3-5-1-1 or was it....? Who knows what formation; anyway, with Cooke playing just in front of the midfield and Hayter left to his own devices up front, O'Driscoll decided to go with Hayter as a lone striker and the formation was playing into Nottingham’s' hands. This lack of ambition against bigger teams was proved last season when Hull and Luton came down: you have to go after these sides instead of playing not to get beaten.
The first half showed up Boscombe's team selection and confirmed O'Driscoll's after match comment of "we'd have settled for a draw". We were treated to some crisp passing from Bournemouth as we have come to expect but also, as we have seen recently at home, no real openings being created apart from a Brian Stock shot from all of 30 yards which sailed harmlessly wide.
On 16 minutes Jack Lester fell over and referee Taylor immediately gave Forest a free kick on the edge of the box, which Johnson put harmlessly over the left hand upright. Two minutes later and Johnson got away from O'Connor into the box on the left and squared the ball for Nicky Southall to sidefoot it past Stewart into the goal.
The Forest centre halves Cullip and Morgan were having a field day putting in some really strong tackles especially on James Hayter who looked like a beginner on an ice rink due to the amount of time he spent on the floor.
The first half was pretty much all Forest with the Bournemouth midfield being outplayed and resorting to hoofing long balls only for Hayter to be given offside or get clattered to the ground.
Forest should have had a second on 34 minutes when Southall swung in a corner from the right and Perch’s header grazed the bar. Almost immediately Stock lost possession and Johnson was put clean through by Eaden but his cross was met by Thompson who shot harmlessly over the bar.
At this point I could see a rout coming if Forest got a second. On 34 minutes Johnson met a cross from Lester but with the goal at his mercy he headed straight into Stewart's hands. Mercifully the half time whistle came with Bournemouth very lucky to be only one down.
HT 0-1.
The Cherries were out early for the second half and immediately after kick off it was apparent that O'Connor was to play much farther up the pitch and this enabled Surman and Cooke to have free rein.
Five minutes into the half Surman twisted away from the giant Wes Morgan to get free down the left flank, Surman's cross was met by Hayter who couldn't get any real contact and the header flashed across goal. Bournemouth by now had taken hold of the game with Cooke and O'Connor causing mayhem for left back Ian Breckin.
Then on 63 minutes a long hopeful ball that looked certain to go for a goal kick from Neil Young was chased by O'Connor whose persistence won a corner on the right. Quickly taken to Stock who feigned to the right and the defender bought it, Stocky then dragged the ball onto his left foot and from the edge of the box he curled the ball delightfully into the far left hand corner of the Forest goal.
Before the celebrations were over "The Wardrobe" was wheeled on! Marcus Browning made way for the talismanic Steve Fletcher whose first touch was a glorious backward header which put James Hayter clean through on goal. He was brought down on the edge of the box by Cullip but the ref waved play on.
The arrival of Fletcher saw Bournemouth take control of the game, his trademark flicked headers and controlled lay-offs were giving Hayter, Cooke and Surman so much more ball to work with; Bournemouth were resurgent and went chasing the winner.
On 75 minutes Hayter again put away by Fletcher down the left crossed to the unmarked Cooke who drilled it goal bound to bring a superb save from Gerrard. Bournemouth were really pressing now and with 15 minutes to go O'Connor slipped the ball through to Cooke who danced into the box only for his shot to be blocked by Cullip.
Forest were still playing 4-4-2 and looking to grab a winner themselves but only had brief moments of possession in a second half dominated by Bournemouth.
Into the last ten minutes and Fletch was sandwiched by Morgan and Cullip earning a free kick 30 yards out on the left, Stocks free kick hit the wall to go out for a corner. With 7 minutes remaining O'Driscoll brought on James Keane for my man of the match
Cooke, who had run himself into the ground. Keanes first touch was a lay-off to set up Stock who let fly from fully 40 yards and was inches wide.
The resulting goal kick brought another Boscombe attack. Keane turned and fired towards the left corner of the goal but a great save by Gerrard pushed the ball out to Hayter whose shot hit a Forest leg on the line then flew out to James O'Connor to surely win it for Bournemouth. His shot was guided like a missile towards the bottom right corner but somehow Gerrard had got across to save again.
Bournemouth survived a late foray with the now limping Johnson crossing for Morgan whose header went tamely over the bar.
Full Time 1-1 and to be honest I think it was fair, a game of two halves as the old cliché goes. Forest should have killed it off in the first half and in the second Bournemouth had chances to win it but the Forest keeper Gerrard pulled off three outstanding saves making him the Forest man of the match.
My thanks go to South West Trains for giving me my money's worth, a five hour journey back to Portsmouth instead of one hour twenty and to the Forest fans who cleaned out all the beer from the buffet car during our unscheduled 2 hour stop in Brockenhurst. Cheers lads.
AFCB: Stewart, Hart, O'Connor, Young, Cooke, Foley, Surman, Browning, Hayter, Stock
Subs: Moss, Purches, Rodrigues, Keene (for Cooke, 86), Fletcher (for Browning, 65)
Forest kicked off attacking the North Stand and threatened early on with Stewart having to save from the lively David Johnson. O'Driscoll went with a 5-3-1-1 or was 3-5-1-1 or was it....? Who knows what formation; anyway, with Cooke playing just in front of the midfield and Hayter left to his own devices up front, O'Driscoll decided to go with Hayter as a lone striker and the formation was playing into Nottingham’s' hands. This lack of ambition against bigger teams was proved last season when Hull and Luton came down: you have to go after these sides instead of playing not to get beaten.
The first half showed up Boscombe's team selection and confirmed O'Driscoll's after match comment of "we'd have settled for a draw". We were treated to some crisp passing from Bournemouth as we have come to expect but also, as we have seen recently at home, no real openings being created apart from a Brian Stock shot from all of 30 yards which sailed harmlessly wide.
On 16 minutes Jack Lester fell over and referee Taylor immediately gave Forest a free kick on the edge of the box, which Johnson put harmlessly over the left hand upright. Two minutes later and Johnson got away from O'Connor into the box on the left and squared the ball for Nicky Southall to sidefoot it past Stewart into the goal.
The Forest centre halves Cullip and Morgan were having a field day putting in some really strong tackles especially on James Hayter who looked like a beginner on an ice rink due to the amount of time he spent on the floor.
The first half was pretty much all Forest with the Bournemouth midfield being outplayed and resorting to hoofing long balls only for Hayter to be given offside or get clattered to the ground.
Forest should have had a second on 34 minutes when Southall swung in a corner from the right and Perch’s header grazed the bar. Almost immediately Stock lost possession and Johnson was put clean through by Eaden but his cross was met by Thompson who shot harmlessly over the bar.
At this point I could see a rout coming if Forest got a second. On 34 minutes Johnson met a cross from Lester but with the goal at his mercy he headed straight into Stewart's hands. Mercifully the half time whistle came with Bournemouth very lucky to be only one down.
HT 0-1.
The Cherries were out early for the second half and immediately after kick off it was apparent that O'Connor was to play much farther up the pitch and this enabled Surman and Cooke to have free rein.
Five minutes into the half Surman twisted away from the giant Wes Morgan to get free down the left flank, Surman's cross was met by Hayter who couldn't get any real contact and the header flashed across goal. Bournemouth by now had taken hold of the game with Cooke and O'Connor causing mayhem for left back Ian Breckin.
Then on 63 minutes a long hopeful ball that looked certain to go for a goal kick from Neil Young was chased by O'Connor whose persistence won a corner on the right. Quickly taken to Stock who feigned to the right and the defender bought it, Stocky then dragged the ball onto his left foot and from the edge of the box he curled the ball delightfully into the far left hand corner of the Forest goal.
Before the celebrations were over "The Wardrobe" was wheeled on! Marcus Browning made way for the talismanic Steve Fletcher whose first touch was a glorious backward header which put James Hayter clean through on goal. He was brought down on the edge of the box by Cullip but the ref waved play on.
The arrival of Fletcher saw Bournemouth take control of the game, his trademark flicked headers and controlled lay-offs were giving Hayter, Cooke and Surman so much more ball to work with; Bournemouth were resurgent and went chasing the winner.
On 75 minutes Hayter again put away by Fletcher down the left crossed to the unmarked Cooke who drilled it goal bound to bring a superb save from Gerrard. Bournemouth were really pressing now and with 15 minutes to go O'Connor slipped the ball through to Cooke who danced into the box only for his shot to be blocked by Cullip.
Forest were still playing 4-4-2 and looking to grab a winner themselves but only had brief moments of possession in a second half dominated by Bournemouth.
Into the last ten minutes and Fletch was sandwiched by Morgan and Cullip earning a free kick 30 yards out on the left, Stocks free kick hit the wall to go out for a corner. With 7 minutes remaining O'Driscoll brought on James Keane for my man of the match
Cooke, who had run himself into the ground. Keanes first touch was a lay-off to set up Stock who let fly from fully 40 yards and was inches wide. The resulting goal kick brought another Boscombe attack. Keane turned and fired towards the left corner of the goal but a great save by Gerrard pushed the ball out to Hayter whose shot hit a Forest leg on the line then flew out to James O'Connor to surely win it for Bournemouth. His shot was guided like a missile towards the bottom right corner but somehow Gerrard had got across to save again.
Bournemouth survived a late foray with the now limping Johnson crossing for Morgan whose header went tamely over the bar.
Full Time 1-1 and to be honest I think it was fair, a game of two halves as the old cliché goes. Forest should have killed it off in the first half and in the second Bournemouth had chances to win it but the Forest keeper Gerrard pulled off three outstanding saves making him the Forest man of the match.
My thanks go to South West Trains for giving me my money's worth, a five hour journey back to Portsmouth instead of one hour twenty and to the Forest fans who cleaned out all the beer from the buffet car during our unscheduled 2 hour stop in Brockenhurst. Cheers lads.
AFCB: Stewart, Hart, O'Connor, Young, Cooke, Foley, Surman, Browning, Hayter, Stock
Subs: Moss, Purches, Rodrigues, Keene (for Cooke, 86), Fletcher (for Browning, 65)
Simon Newsham, Portsmouth