NOTTINGHAM FOREST BLOG: A change in the offing?

The swirling winds that whipped around the City Ground on Saturday brought with them a host of potential managerial candidates.

To add flames to Forest’s already raging fire, both Tim Sherwood and Roy Keane were in attendance for our game with Sheffield Wednesday.

Sherwood no doubt is a serious consideration for the inevitable Forest job. Keane on the other hand was probably there just to stir things up, which is all he’s good at these days! Unless of course he was there to watch Republic of Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood?

Another good crowd of over 22,000 were in attendance to see if Forest could beat the Owls for the second time this season.

We started with a 4-4-2 formation but somehow you just knew it would change before the final whistle.

Wednesday nearly took the lead after eight minutes but Jamaal Lascelles produced a stunning tackle to block Jaques Maghoma.

Britt Assombalonga came close at the other end as he cut inside from the right but his shot was deflected.

The Reds were definitely on top for most of the first-half and but for a fantastic, point blank save from Westwood to deny Robert Tesche, they should have been in the lead.

New boy Todd Kane had a quiet game and was not really tested. Meanwhile Michail Antonio was constantly booed by his former supporters, as expected.

What was unexpected though was that Forest opted for Dorus De Vries in goal and Ben Osborn up front, another clear example that Pearce is completely clueless as to what his strongest formation and personnel actually are. We’re only 25 games into the season after all!!!

It looked being like a goalless first-half but Wednesday broke down the right and took the lead through Kieran Lee after good work from Stevie May; the goal came just minutes before the break.

Another debut boy arrived after the break in the form of Gary Gardner, from Aston Villa.

He, along with fellow loanee Kane, must have wondered what they’d signed up for as the second-half progressed. Gardner showed a lot of energy, but Wednesday ran riot and soon added a second when Chris Maguire cut inside and fired into the bottom left hand corner following excellent play from Claude Dielna.

Dielna was outstanding for the opposition and is the best left back I’ve seen in the Championship this season.

De Vries made an incredible double save to block May and Maguire in quick succession after 53 minutes, and how Wednesday didn’t score again is baffling as they were all over Forest.

Forest did have two good chances when Antonio and Jamie Paterson were both brilliantly denied by Westwood respectively.

The post match activities were very interesting.

Chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi was refusing to comment on Pearce’s future. Personally, I don’t expect Psycho to be in charge for the Derby game next week (as I write this blog no announcement has been made) but some are speculating on a last chance win or bust for the gaffer.

If he does indeed stay and lose to the Rams, mark my words - Derby fans will be posting ‘that photo’ all over social media. You know the one, where Pearce is kissing the Derby badge in Ted McMinn’s benefit match.