Forest Previews: Routledge Has Abscessed Tooth

Blackstock. I remember that name!

This is Nottingham

Away form the key to Forest's surge into automatic promotion race, says Blackstock

DEXTER Blackstock believes Nottingham Forest's surge into the automatic promotion race has come about after they addressed their away form.

And, as they prepare for their toughest trip of the season so far – against table-topping QPR on Sunday – the striker believes that, this time around, they can earn a place in the top flight.

Blackstock admits the sudden collapse Forest suffered on their travels from January last season was a key factor in their failure to secure a top-two finish.

A 1-0 defeat to Derby stopped Forest from making it 20 games unbeaten on the road and in their remaining nine away matches, the Reds picked up just two points as they failed to win on their travels, losing seven and drawing twice.

But they go to Loftus Road on the back of a run of five wins in six away matches in the league.

And Blackstock says maintaining that kind of form will be crucial if they are to go one better this time around.

"We knew that our away form after January was the stumbling block last season," said Blackstock.

"With our home form, we know that if we had even managed a half-decent away record, we would have been promoted.

"It is the same this year. We knew that if we could up our away form, we would be in a strong position.

"We were confident that we would maintain our home form from last season.

"We always thought that, if we could get going away as well, we would be up there – and that has proved to be the case.

"We are getting the results away and it is carrying us up the table."

Blackstock will watch the game against his former club on television as he continues his recovery following surgery to repair his knee.

The striker is expecting to be on the sidelines for a year – but believes he could be a top-flight player when he returns.

"The best case scenario is that, when I return, it is as a Premier League footballer with Forest," he said.

"I don't see why that should not happen, because we have as a good a chance as anyone."

Key to Blackstock's confidence is the mood of confidence at the club.

"I don't feel like the mood is massively different," he said. "We believed we could do it last year.

"Obviously we fell short in the end but we believed we could do it. This time that belief is the same.

"The extra experience from that disappointment will hold us in good stead."

www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport/Away-form-key-Forest-s-surge-automatic-promotion-race-says-Blackstock/article-3210563-detail/article.html


THIS IS NOTTINGHAM

QPR v Nottingham Forest match preview panel, Loftus Road, Sunday February 12
QPR team news: Hogan Ephraim will be suspended following his sending off in the 1-0 win at Reading last weekend.

But Josh Parker could return after making his return from a back injury in a friendly this week.

Akos Buzsaky also returned to full training this week but has been sidelined for almost four months with a knee injury and is unlikely to be ready to face Forest.

QPR (from) Kenny, Hill, Orr, Connolly, Gorkss, Routledge, Hall, Derry, Taarabt, Vaagen Moen, Faurlin, Hulse, Miller, Rowlands, Chimbonda, Shittu, Cerny, Doughty, Parker.

Forest team news: Forest have no fresh injury worries to contend with, although it remains unclear when defender Kelvin Wilson will be available for selection again.

With Robbie Findley, Guy Moussi and Dexter Blackstock on the long-term injury list, Billy Davies' squad will be stretched however.

Lewis McGugan may be pushing for a return, after being rested against Watford and the hard-working David McGoldrick could also be recalled up front.

Forest (from): Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Chambers, Konchesky, Anderson, McKenna, McGugan, Cohen, Majewski, Tyson, McCleary, Earnshaw, McGoldrick, Tudgay, Adebola, Smith, Lynch, Moloney.

Danger man: Adel Taarabt.

The mercurial Moroccan midfielder is the heartbeat of the QPR side.

He has netted 14 goals already this season and, if Forest want to be a success, they must first of all thwart his attacking influence.

One to watch: Michael Doughty.

The left-sided midfielder may only have made one substitute appearance in his entire Rangers career, but his presence could still hold considerable significance.

If he is included, Forest chairman Nigel Doughty's loyalties may be tested, as 18-year-old Michael is his son.And, for a short spell, until recently, the club's ownership was actually in his name.

Forest will be hoping their former owner does not come back to haunt them on the pitch. And not many clubs can say that.

www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/nottinghamforest/forest/QPR-v-Nottingham-Forest-match-preview-panel-Loftus-Road-Sunday-February-12/article-3210340-detail/article.html

Toothache: Where Are You? (Actually, I have the answer for that!)

VIDEO FLASHBACK to Nott F's Brian Clough Hitting the Fan
www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1989/01/19/AS190189029/?s=qpr

Nottingham Forest Official Site

Queens Park Rangers Preview
Fri 11 Feb 2011

It's first against second at Loftus Road on Sunday as Queens Park Rangers entertain Nottingham Forest (kick-off 1.15pm).
Rangers have been top of the Championship pile for several weeks, while Forest moved into the automatic promotion spots last weekend after claiming their sixth successive league win.
Watford became their latest victims and Billy Davies will fear they have little to fear as they head to West London for the game, which is to be shown live on Sky.
Rangers have beaten Reading and Portsmouth in their last two outings and have a seven-point lead at the head of the table.

Team news:

Forest will be without long-term injury victims Dexter Blackstock (knee), Guy Moussi and Robbie Findley (both thigh).
But Billy Davies has no fresh injury worries to contend with as he prepares to head to West London.
Rangers will be without midfielder Hogan Ephraim, who must serve a three-match ban following his sending off against Reading last Friday.
Pascal Chimbonda and Danny Shittu, who joined QPR last month but have yet to make their debuts, may be contention after both stayed the distance in a midweek reserve game.
And Neil Warnock's squad may even include Michael Doughty, the teenage son of Forest Chairman Nigel Doughty, who recently signed his first professional contract at Loftus Road.

Form guide:

Forest
Watford (H) W 1-0
Coventry (A) W 2-1
West Ham (A - FAC) L 2-3
Bristol City (H) W 1-0
Derby (A) W 1-0

QPR
Reading (A) W 1-0
Portsmouth (H) W 2-0
Hull City (A) D 0-0
Coventry (H) W 2-1
Burnley (A) D 0-0

Past meetings:

There was nothing to separate Forest and Rangers when they met at The City Ground in November as the game finished goalless.
It wasn't, however, short on entertainment as both sides had chances in front of goal.
Rangers had appeals for a first half penalty waved away in the first half when Tommy Smith appeared to be brought down by McGugan.
After the break it was Forest's turn to be frustrated in their hopes of securing a spot-kick after Robert Earnshaw appeared to be bundled over by Alejandro Faurlin.
Forest 'keeper Lee Camp made excellent saves to deny Kyle Walker and Adel Taarabt after he had let fly from 30 yards.

Lee Camp makes a good save
Camp's opposite number Paddy Kenny made a smart stops to deny former QPR man Dexter Blackstock and McGugan.
But it was Taarabt who almost had the last laugh, forcing Camp to make another finger-tip save in the closing stages.
That was the 18th all-time draw between the two sides, while Forest have overcome Rangers 25 times and been beaten by them on 14 occasions.

Connections:

Former England, QPR and Forest player Stan Bowles


Stan Bowles was one of the maverick figures of the English game in the 1970s - a reputation he established during his time with QPR.
He moved to Loftus Road from Carlisle to replace a Rangers legend in Rodney Marsh and played a key role in arguably the club's greatest ever team.
He spent seven years with them, scoring 97 goals in just over 300 league appearances, before Brian Clough signed him for Forest in 1979.
He helped The Reds win the European Super Cup in 1979 but made only 19 league appearances for the club before returning to the capital to join Leyton Orient.

www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2290525,00.html