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"Are you confident?" two Burnley supporters asked me as I made my way towards the turnstiles. "Hopeful, but I wouldn't say confident," was my response. I'm always hopeful, I wouldn't go otherwise, but how on earth could I be confident going there of all places and after the disappointing start to the season.
It had been a good day for most of us up to that point. We'd had a nice meal in a pub on the way although two of our party had been taken in by some old bloke who convinced them he'd played for Luton, Notts County and Celtic. Those not taken in enjoyed the Sky offering of Liverpool v Manchester United.
On arriving at the ground we went for a quick look at the now very impressive Trent Bridge, home of Notts County Cricket Club and then 'hopefully' to the ground and inside. There'd been no news of the team but a quick check of those warming up confirmed that Stephen Jordan, as expected, was in for the injured Christian Kalvenes whilst new boy Steven Thompson replaced the suspended Chris Eagles who watched the game from the away end with some of his team mates.
I could say, with two forwards on the pitch, that we lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, but I'm not sure that was the case to be honest. Perhaps it was more a 4-1-3-2 system but it did take some working out.
We kicked off with Brian Jensen positioned just in front of the Burnley fans and the early stages of the game were spent down the far end. Steven Thompson made an early impression as he held of two defenders to get the ball to Martin Paterson and overall it was a positive start.
Some Burnley fans were on their feet when a shot from Chris McCann was deflected goalwards but it didn't really trouble Paul Smith in the Forest goal who had more than enough time to get down to save easily.
It certainly wasn't all Burnley and in one Forest attack there could have been a really nasty incident as Nathan Tyson went in towards Jensen with his studs showing. Thankfully he didn't come close to making contact but it was surprising that referee Penton chose to take no action.
Tyson, in the next Forest attack, should have given them the lead but he fired wide to give the Clarets an escape and how we made the most of it. We won a free kick on the left hand side and a few yards outside the Forest box. With no Blake and no Eagles on the pitch it was Chris McCann who took it, pushing it sideways for Graham Alexander who made no mistake with a superb shot into the corner giving Smith no chance.
It had been fairly even up to that point but it was Burnley who got on top now and Forest were hardly threatening us. Much of the play saw Burnley going forward but the second goal didn't come and we were thankful to Jensen right on half time for keeping us level. It would have been so undeserved had they got it but he got down to block an effort from Rob Earnshaw and thankfully that was 1-0 at half time.
It was to get better in the second half but before that it got worse. Just a few minutes after the break Forest drew level. They won a free kick on the right and it cannoned onto the bar (apparently off Jordan) and it all left Earnshaw with the simplest of tasks to grab the equaliser.
We hadn't started the half well, we'd gone into a shell and looked too eager to get men behind the ball and defend what we had. Now we had to come out again and that's what we did. But within a minute of that equaliser both sides came close to scoring.
We went straight on the attack and Thompson came close to getting his first Burnley goal. He beat the keeper to the ball but his header was cleared. As we looked to get onto the rebound there was an obvious foul but it was missed and Forest broke with Jensen coming to the rescue.
It was our worst period of the game. We couldn't get a foot on the ball and Coyle decided to change things. On came Robbie Blake for Martin Paterson and from that moment really we took command of the game.
Robbie was able to get his foot on the ball and he looked back to his best for most of the time he was on. Joey Gudjonsson soon followed him and then Ade Akinbiyi. All three subs used in a ten minute interval, but all three of them were to play a massive part in turning this into a win.
Robbie and Ade soon linked up. Robbie got into the box and played the ball across to Ade on the left and his ball back in was handled by Wes Morgan. There could be no protest; this was as clear as they come and the well positioned referee didn't hesitate.
With a Forest player down injured on the half way line there was some delay before the penalty could be taken and goalkeeper Smith tried to unsettle Alexander who had already taken up his position. Alexander never flinched, stood there focused and almost snorting at the keeper as he ignored him. And it was Alexander who won the battle as he simply hammered the ball in from the spot.
In front again and now Forest decided to go for it. They made changes including the introduction of Andrew Cole who received a warm reception from the Burnley fans as he came on. But it was Burnley on top now, and the play down the right from Wade Elliott and Joey Gudjonsson was an absolute delight.
The confidence was beginning to ooze out of this Burnley side where previously this season we'd looked so nervous, and despite a late charge there was never going to be a Forest equaliser.
So finally a win, and a deserved one, with good performances all around the pitch. We discussed the man of the match on the way home and there were so many candidates. I'm sure not many will agree with my choice but it's going to Wade Elliott who I thought looked so much more like the Elliott of a few months ago. He wanted the ball, he demanded the ball, he got wide, and he caused Forest all sorts of problems.
All we need to do now is carry on playing the way we did, particularly in that last half hour or so, this was a Burnley side we hadn't seen the like of this season. Keep it up lads and the climb up the table will undoubtedly follow.
Now let's turn a performance in at home this Tuesday - we owe Blackpool one.
The teams were;
Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Luke Chambers (Garath McCleary 80), Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson, Joe Heath (Andrew Cole 80), Guy Moussi, James Perch, Chris Cohen, Lee Martin, Nathan Tyson, Rob Earnshaw. Subs not used: Dale Roberts, Ian Breckin, Matt Thornhill.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Russell Anderson, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Kevin McDonald (Joey Gudjonsson 63), Chris McCann, Steven Thompson (Ade Akinbiyi 67), Martin Paterson (Robbie Blake 57). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Alan Mahon.
Yellow cards: Russell Anderson, Wade Elliott.
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).
Attendance: 20,504 including 1,153 Clarets.