We should have won that game

Last updated : 24 April 2005 By Tony Scholes

Gary Megson was a strangely subdued figure on the touchline yesterday, but at least he was back to football after spending most of the week learning of the goings on in Nottingham night spots.

He was more positive than he’d been for some time though after the game as he looked at the possibility of a late run that could keep them Forest the Championship.

“I’m more hopeful we can stay up after this result, although I know we will still be favourites with the bookies to be relegated” said Megson after the game.

“We went into the game against Burnley knowing that we needed to win our last three games to stand a chance of staying up. We’ve won the first and now we’ve got to go to QPR, give it our best shot and hope we get the result we need.

“Then we need to keep our fingers crossed with regard to how other teams fare, that is the situation we are in.

All we can do is try and help our own cause but while some people might argue that QPR have nothing left to play for this season, I know their manager Ian Holloway and that’s not the way he will be thinking. It is their last home game of the season, and they won’t want to lose it.”

So no mention of the match itself from Megson, but Steve Cotterill was left wondering just how the Clarets didn’t come back with their first win at the City Ground for 41 years.

“Without a shadow of doubt, we should have won that game,” Steve said. “We’ve had four great chances, Ade and James O’Connor in the first half and then Lee Roche and John Oster in the second half. They are all six yard opportunities that you would hope would go in.

“It was a game where we could have won quite comfortably I thought. The pitch was very bobbly and was heavily water so that did make it hard for both sets of players.

“I thought we passed it quite well at times and we weathered their fifteen minute spell when the crowd was behind them.

“We made a mistake at the back and we said all afternoon that you that you mustn’t give Kris Commons chances. I know all about him and he’s a fantastic player so you can’t afford to give him any chances.

“We are a little bit disappointed that we didn’t win the game today, but good luck to Forest, it is a terrific club and if they stay up it will be great for them. They live to fight another day.”