#nffc 1 v 1 #afcb

The alarm woke me unceremoniously at 6:30 but for the first time in a month I literally jumped out of bed - it was #afcb away-day time

The driver, Matt, was prompt at 08:00 and we were on our way. The first away game since Watford - it couldn't be that bad again, could it .....?

We stopped off at Cherwell services for a usual pre-match fill up

Matt forgot it was a football day and bought sushi. We all just stared - each of us trying to calculate exactly what we could get away with saying without endangering our seat in the car

In the end we bottled it. Said nothing and reached Nottingham by 12:45

Notts county had the brilliant business idea of opening up their sports' bar to the #afcb fans

Although Hooters was appealing..... we took the Magpies up on their offer and I have to say, atmosphere apart, it was by far the best away bar I'd frequented. Good beer and tv's in each booth showing the Blackpool game - bravo

We walked to the City Ground and it wasn't like just stepping up a league, more like 2 or 3 - very impressive

I also got to meet the Forest mascot, Robin Hood - so basically my day couldn't get any better, or so I thought....

As the game was just about to start, Mull of Kintyre came on and just before the whistle went the music stopped and the fans carried on singing - awfully

I'm not sure what affiliation Forest have with the far reaches of Scotland but if they are going to sing that they should at least sing the same verse!!

After sharing half chances, AFCB had the first chance on 6 minutes as Rantie burst through one on one with the keeper but the keeper managed to tackle him before he could get a shot away

Straight from that Cox fired a low shot which Henderson parried and as Cox came in for the ball the players collided and it looked like Henderson might have popped a shoulder

Off he went and Allsop replaced him

The first half then fell into a pattern whereby each AFCB player could either hold the ball up but not pass, or simply could not hold the ball up

This meant that apart from the occasional break, Forest had wave upon wave of attacks as we simply could not keep hold of the ball

Pressure was mounting but with Cook in outstanding form at the back, AFCB kept Forest at arms' length apart from when Cox was put through and shot wide

That was, however, until the 38th minute

A Forest long ball was headed out an fell to Lansbury 

He controlled the ball and sent a 25 yard curling shot into the top tight corner

He'd solved the mystery of how to score (Lansbury - mystery - oh please yourselves....)

I was ready to rant that a keeper Allsop's size should never get beaten from that range but the ground's excellent screens showed the replay and I think even if Flahavan had been sat on his shoulders, it would have still gone in

Fearing the worst the team rallied a little and could even have gone in level

With just seconds to go a long Cook throw caused mayhem in the box and Grabban (I think) swung and hit he ball against the foot of the post

To be fair it was by far the best  thing he'd done all half - he seemed to physically repel the ball

At least, though, he was still better than Surman, who seemed to be pulling a sack of coal around with him

Others had lesser bags but most still seemed to be carrying...

Half Time 1-0

In an ode to 'Confucius says' , at half time, 'Confused Rich says' ... "they whipped us like a tied up goat" - wise words indeed

The second half saw Daniels replace Harte which immediately improved our play down the left but we still sat too deep, gave the ball away too often and invited them on

On 61 minutes Forest had their best chance to seal the game as a player was sent though (couldn't see who) and he rounded Allsop skilfully

Stood in front of a gaping, empty goal, inexplicably he struck the ball wide

Hahahahhahaha

Prior to this I had turned to my fellow travellers and said that I'd never been in a crowd that was SO big, that made so little noise

At that precise point, you could have heard a mouse fart

From that moment AFCB started to BELiEVE

Success was being gained down both left and right and if we actually had someone in the middle.....

Then for me, the pivotal moment. The truly awful Surman went off and Pitman came on and he went straight up front

Finally, someone to hold the ball up and knock on headers

From that moment instead of playing with 10 and carrying 1 - we looked like a team and more importantly, we looked like a threat!!!

The home fans were now not just quiet but nervous

All of a sudden the players weren't as assured and AFCB were picking up more than their fair share of second balls - but time was running out

Shots and headers went close the AFCB fans outsang a 27000 strong home support but it just wasn't happening

Then, in the 91st minute the ball was played up to Rantie's feet

A slight mis-control, a turn then a pass to the left and Pugh was on his own just inside the box

He swung his right peg and scuffed the ball towards the near post

Everything went into slow motion . The keeper moved to the right, the ball went closer and closer and I swear Chariots of Fire was being played over the tannoy

It BLOODY WELL WENT IN!!!!

The crowd went MENTAL - I was jumping up and down throwing my daughter in the air as she screamed in my ear

Neither of us came away with any dignity from that moment - but who cares - we'd equalised!!

The final 3 minutes were akin to water-boarding as we all prayed for the whistle

Their keeper, previously booked for obvious time-wasting suddenly was running to take the kicks like life depended on it but it was too little too late

"Little Bournemouth" as described in the Nottingham Post had come, and they'd got a point

Final Score 1-1

Summary - The fitness coach needs shooting. Miles slower and less energetic than Forest. With that lack of fitness, touch was often poor so we made it so much harder for ourselves than we needed to

BUT and it is indeed a big BUT we have come to Forest and we have competed enough to take a share of the honours

The fans believe, we just need the players to believe that they are not here just for the ride but because the DESERVE to be in the Championship

If the psychologists can sort that out and our key injured players can return, who knows what we can achieve

Star Man - Cook - simply magnificent 

Life doesn't get any better ...