Much better but same result

Last updated : 14 April 2011 By Tony Scholes
Marvin Bartley
This defeat was harder to take given it was so influenced by the shocking Jon Moss with the whistle aided and abetted by some appalling behaviour from some of the Forest players, inevitably matching that of their obnoxious manager Billy Davies.

Davies had already been warned long before Marvin Bartley received a red card just past the half hour and whilst he was describing the challenge as nasty some of his players were pressurising the shocking Moss and Paul McKenna was being allowed to go round raising his arms at all and sundry with no punishment.

It left us with a difficult hour, for much of which we looked as though we might still get something, but in the end substitute David McGoldrick scored twice to give the home side the points although there was no sign of the little man punching the air on the touchline shouting 'Job Done!"

Eddie Howe made three changes to the side that took the 4-0 hammering at Leicester. Danny Fox returned from suspension at the expense of Brian Easton and both Jack Cork and Bartley were back in the midfield with Jay Rodriguez and Chris Iwelumo out. It was later confirmed that Jay was suffering from a hip injury.

This game, a few weeks ago, looked as though it could be a big promotion game, but poor form by both sides had almost billed it as a last hope of getting into the top six. Forest's form was worse than ours with no wins in nine games and it was soon clear as to why.

Forest were simply awful in the first half hour. They offered precious little and looked as though they were there for the taking. Unfortunately, despite being much the better side, we were unable to create any real openings and too often we just didn't get anything like enough support up alongside Nathan Delfouneso.

We were totally in control in the midfield where Jack Cork, in particular, was in good form, but alongside him both Dean Marney and Marvin Bartley were playing well.

The game nearly swung our way on the half hour when Lee Camp came to Forest's rescue. A Delfouneso effort was blocked but fell nicely to Chris Eagles who saw the Forest goalkeeper save with his foot.

We just needed to step it up but unfortunately disaster was just around the corner. Marvin Bartley went in for the ball and was penalised. There seemed no intent from referee Moss to do anything other than award Forest a free kick.

Now this is the Forest who berated Leeds recently for pressuring a referee but they were just as guilty. Camp raced to Moss as did two other Forest players whilst McKenna thought it was acceptable to raise his arms and push Bartley and then Eagles.

Moss fell for it hook, line and sinker and brandished the red card and Burnley were down to ten men and fighting an uphill battle. It was a battle that certainly caused us no problems in the remainder of the first half and we went in at 0-0.

The second half saw Forest having most of the play, as you would expect, but they didn't trouble us too often although Brian Jensen did make two very good saves to keep the scores level.

We had one opportunity when substitute Ross Wallace played in Marney and Camp again did well to get down to his right to save.

I'd reached the point where I thought we were still going to get something but then they won a free kick on the left hand side after a foul by Duff. It was played in, appeared to go through Tyrone Mears' legs, deflected off a Forest player and fell invitingly for McGoldrick to score.

The home fans celebrated, more in relief than anything else, and the obnoxious one thought it was his cue to come onto the pitch.

Howe through on Iwelumo and then Steven Thompson and Iwelumo did get his head to a cross but had no chance of getting anything on it and Camp was able to save easily.

The fourth official signalled five minutes of stoppage time and that was enough for McGoldrick to get a second. By then, Cork was playing at centre half and he was left with two to mark.

The final whistle sounded soon after to end our hopes of getting anything and almost certainly end our hopes of getting into the end of season play offs.

Same result as Saturday then, but this was much better. Not only was it a better performance but there was more desire, more determination and I don't think Burnley fans could complain too much at the end at what we'd offered.

Fingers will continue to point at Moss, and rightly so. He got the big decision wrong and affected the rest of the game.

The teams were;

Nottingham Forest: Lee Camp, Brendan Moloney (Chris Gunter 82), Wes Morgan, Luke Chambers, Paul Konchesky, Lewis McGugan, Paul McKenna, Guy Moussi (Radoslaw Majewski 71), Garath McCleary, Marcus Tudgay (David McGoldrick 71), Robert Earnshaw. Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Julian Bennett, Kris Boyd, Dele Adebola.
Yellow Card: Paul Konchesky.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Andre Bikey (Steven Thompson 86), Danny Fox, Dean Marney, Marvin Bartley, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott (Chris Iwelumo 80), Chris Eagles (Ross Wallace 63), Nathan Delfouneso. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Shane Duffy, Clarke Carlisle, Graham Alexander.
Yellow Cards: Andre Bikey, Danny Fox, Michael Duff.
Red Card: Marvin Bartley.

Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 19,411.