Nottingham Forest 0 - 0 Oldham Athletic

It's midweek ? it's a home game ? it's Oldham ? Oh, and it's our game in hand advantage where a win can raise us to second in the league.

And you wonder why all those factors fill me with dread ??

In this week's edition of Why Do I Bother the answer to the question above takes not the slightest bit of rocket science to work out.

It's quite simply this: It's all so damn predictable.

From too much 'safe' sideways and backwards passing; floating the ball high above the box to be either plucked out by their 'keeper or cleared with consummate ease by one of their defenders (simply because the one player in a red shirt anywhere near the goal was totally isolated); clearances at our end totally ineffective because Smudge isn't happy until he's held the ball long enough to hear the fans barracking behind him; no player in a red shirt able to keep possession of the ball any longer than the proverbial fool and his money because to them the ball does a passable impersonation of a hand grenade or because they're so incapable of creating any space for themselves through their incapability to move off the ball; failure to keep the line resulting in getting caught by their offside trap (with more than a little help from flag-happy linos with a poor grasp of the offside rule); to being repeatedly bamboozled by a particular move whilst defending set pieces (in tonight's case the Oldham short corner routine) and failure to make good on the chances we did eventually create.

Like I say, it was all so predictable because all the observations I've just mentioned above were the defining features of this poor game. This was the poorest Oldham side I've seen, even worse than the side we stuffed a couple of years ago. Yet it was they who came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after half time when it took two good stops by Smudge to deny McDonald at close range. If he had scored from that, I reckon that would have been game over as we looked at that point to be short of everything - confidence, creativity, movement and shape, and about as likely to score as Gary Megson helping new club Bolton Wanderers qualify for the champions League this season.

There was some relief from this shortly afterwards with the arrival of Arron Davies who appeared to be literally itching to shake things up from the moment he stepped onto the field. Within seconds he had completed a superb run up field before volleying just wide of the post, and shortly afterwards was involved in setting up chances for Cohen and Commons, both of whom put in distinctly below-par performances all evening. Chambers fared slightly better going close a couple of times by the right-hand post - on one occasion setting up a superb chance when a low cross evaded just about everyone - but unfortunately that included players in red shirts because (surprise surprise!) there was no-one nearby, even though the Oldham defence had fallen back and for once there was no chance of being caught offside.

As Forest were booed off at the end of both halves tonight, I couldn't help but count myself lucky I'd been unable to attend the Luton game. However tonight's performance - especially during the first half - was one of the most woeful displays I've seen from Forest all year, prompting more speculation between me and my friends, and contemplating the consequences (season ticket-wise) of promotion eluding us again this season.

Painful decisions indeed, but back-to-back draws at home with a defeat in between suddenly no longer resemble promotion form. Tonight's game being the first of three at home - a minimum of seven points was expected. OK, so that's two points dropped, we've just got to win both the Tranmere and Southend games now. And tonight's game on paper at least was the easiest of the three. Having said that we do seem to have a bit of a mental block when it comes to Oldham, having now failed to score against them in four consecutive games, even if tonight's score line is a five-goal improvement on that which we succumbed to at theirs on New Year's Day.

So what now? With Tyson still suffering niggly injuries and Holt facing a hernia op, we are woefully short on firepower. No use relying on Dobie who just isn't in many people's view going to make it happen here, even if he eventually overcomes persistent injury problems (I wonder if The Ginger One might take him on loan at The Reebok??). That just leaves Agogo, who is doing OK, but is facing international commitments in the near future, so it isn't exactly rocket science to work out we're definitely wanting in that department and unrest among the fans isn't going to subside until another forward appears on Trentside. Getting the right person aside, hearing that things are in hand is all very well, but on that front Calderwood needs to deliver, and fast. The one consolation from tonight was that in Arron Davies we appear once more to have a player capable of making things happen down the right, and at the back Wilson has proved he is worthy of a regular starting berth and combines well with both Breckin and Wes, the latter of whom would be my first choice to partner him, and the posting on Fan Talk a couple of days ago about form deserting us coinciding with Breckin getting the captain's armband back is food for thought indeed. I'd certainly say we missed Lennon tonight too.

Time to stand up and be counted. I'm unable to make the Tranmere game so will be spared the embarrassment of GT popping up and putting one past us like he did last Christmas (please, No!). Coverage will resume either for the Southend game or the Sunday game at Carlisle. By which time we will have returned to winning ways in a manner less predictable than of late.

No pressure, guys!

Ref Watch: M Haywood - Some odd decisions and overall totally inept, as were both his flag-happy assistants.

Entertainment Value: One of the poorest games I've seen in a long time. 2/10

Atmosphere: Morgue-like, as if Halloween had arrived a day earlier - pre-match build-up as bad (that is to say almost non-existent) as last game.

Highlights: The arrival of Arron Davies changed the tempo of the game; Crossley's appearance back on City Ground turf (albeit as sub) was always going to be welcome.

Lowlights: Dire first half, one of the worst I've seen.

Stinker: Clingan - just didn't look with it tonight.

Stormer: Davies - a revelation down the right.