Nottingham Forest blog: It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a season

Forest were completely outplayed by Russell Slade’s side for the second time this season, culminating in another 2-1 defeat.

The Welsh side tore apart our left flank and Michael Mancienne was exposed all too often. No surprise that both of their goals came from right wing assists then, the goals were converted by Ralls and Doyle respectively.

The first was a scrappy deflection that led to a powerful, close range volley and the second was a deep cross and well headed strike.

Antonio started well and was giving Peltier a tough time, Vaughan started poorly and looked well out of sorts.

Once again, the whole side looked like they’d given up the ghost and were playing for the sake of it.

Sad really, when you think that the 21,000 spectators were still paying £25 or more for the pleasure of watching this!

Surprisingly, Gardner was replaced By Akpom but Forest still struggled to impose themselves on the game.

It wasn’t until the introductions of Osborn and Paterson that we finally started to play, plus the fact that Cardiff went down to 10 men following the dismissal of keeper David Marshall, for violent conduct.

Blackstock had a good effort saved by the sub keeper before finally finding the net in the last minute.

Great work by Paterson and Osborn set up the poachers finish at the near post but the game and the season were soon finished with an unerring sense of defeat. It optimises the sheer lack of success when the highlight of our final game was the celebration of Derby’s failure to make the play offs.

Despite our contempt for the Rams, that was a sad admission of our own inefficiencies!

Since my very first blog, back in August 2014, I have seen us top the table, chase the play-offs and even flirt with relegation.

It’s been a season that began with overcooked optimism and that ended in sheer bemusement, both on and off the field.

So here is the summary of a year (season) in the life of a Forest blogger. Firstly, the things I got wrong; numerous typos, my initial impression of Michail Antonio, my comments on the Lansbury to Burnley saga and of course, last week’s Anderson gaff (see typos!)

And the things I got right??? To be honest I will claim just the two; Predicting a complete failure under the guidance of Stuart Pearce and the fact that we would be lost without the commitment of our chairman, Fawaz Al-Hasawi!

I’m absolutely honoured to have been given this privilege, let’s face it, every fan has an opinion but not everyone gets to voice it in this way.

And that is all this is, one supporters views and opinions.

Certainly not a dictatorship; which is why I thrived on any opposition I’ve received.

The whole point of my blog is to engage and debate with the true Reds out there. I have supported this club for 28 years, 7 of which I spent representing them throughout the youth ranks.

I have played for my club against Barcelona; and supported them against Accrington Stanley! (Fact)

So there you have it, who knows what next season will bring? If we get Reid, Assombalonga and couple of others fit, then who knows?

Personally I think we’ll do just fine because we have a decent gaffer, a fantastic chairman and some cracking youngsters coming through.

My message to the fans is simple; stop living in the past, (We’re NOT famous anymore) Bournemouth are! As for the embargo, not a problem as I’ve said all along, simply because we have huge support, a massive squad and emerging youth.

The highlights of the season were back to back victories over the Champions and “That “last minute winner away at Derby.

Despite my criticisms of Psycho the boss, he remains my all time favourite player!

Finally; a MASSIVE thank you to Stephen Thirkill at The Mansfield Chad for giving me this opportunity and my ever suffering wife Rebecca for making it happen! YOU REDS!!!!