Nottingham Forest 4 - 0 Leyton Orient

Well, I be blowed! Today was one of those games which initially I was struggling to get too enthusiastic about. Granted, like most people (I suspect at least) I was still on a high over the way we overcame Huddersfield despite the well-documented setbacks, however quite a bit has happened since then. Having last weekend off inevitably allowed Carlisle to sneak back into second place and for Leeds to loom large once more, not to mention having to contemplate where goals were going to come from, not only today, but for the next few games at least what with Agogo off to the African Nations, Wilson suspended for today's game and Tyse still out injured, leaving the form of Grant Holt causing one or two headaches.

So, then I am delighted to report that we were provided with some answers in emphatic style today. Not just from Holty, but from the rest of the squad in one of those games which just happened to fall into place at the right time. It probably wasn't as polished a performance as the Crewe game, but certainly plenty to be happy about.

In the absence of the suspended Kelvin Wilson, Perchy was drafted in at Right Back. Not perhaps the position I would prefer to see him play, but with a strong midfield in McGugan, Sammy and the ex-Yeovil pair plus Commons in his free-to-wander role behind Holty, it looked OK at least.

As so often seems to be the case just lately it was some time - almost 30 minutes in fact - before we mounted anything which could be considered to be a proper goal attempt - Holty getting on the end of a Commons header which at least managed to stretch O's keeper Stuart Nelson. By which time we'd survived a couple of major scares at the hands of peroxide man Sean Thornton who for long periods appeared to be playing us on his own. Two thirty yarders, the first of which was from a free kick, took Smudge to full stretch to tip the ball over the bar, and even more worrying a stunning shot which crashed against the inside of the far post. The sort of chance on which games can turn, and the relief felt around the ground as the ball was put out for a corner was obvious, as we considered how many of these we were going to get away with before eventually paying for it.

But it was ultimately the O's who were the ones left to rue these missed chances. Shortly afterwards some quick thinking from Arron Davies over a short corner found Commons who threaded the ball across to Holty on the back post, and although a defender appeared to have it covered, Holty nipped in quick to intercept to head the ball in. An excellent goal and relief for Holty to celebrate his first goal since 1st September, an experience which had ultimately turned sour that day when he was later sent off. Yet the way Holty was playing today he was looking lighter on his feet than we'd seen him in a long time. Nice one, Grant!

This opening goal inspired Forest who proceeded to play well for the remainder of the half, with the ball rarely away from the Bridgford End. But Orient were not finished, and early in the second half they had another stab at goal when Wayne Gray broke through, and once again Smudge had to be at his best to block the shot, which he managed to do with his legs. An impressive block it certainly was, though Gray really ought to have done better.

A couple of minutes later Orient had another chance, however this time Brecks and Lockwood managed to intercept to make Smudge's job easier. I don't know whether it was simply the occasion of playing against his old club, but Lockwood was excellent today. Nothing too fancy or anything like that, but like Wes alongside him (also in great form today) when the ball needed clearing he simply did it.

The second goal was the killer, and came with the second half only six minutes old. Davies was the architect of a move which released Holty in a burst of speed we've not been used to seeing this season. Holty advanced into the box and was promptly felled by Nelson who'd come out to meet him. Even allowing for the fact that Holty fell perhaps a tad too easily IMO, the ref paused before pointing to the spot. [At this point it's just worth mentioning that today Calderwood had decided against having a 'keeper on the bench, but in the event it was Orient who'd have had the greater reason to be worried!]. Now, if I remember rightly the penalty we conceded here twelve days ago saw us have a man sent off, right? And since Nelson was undeniably last man in this instance, that'd surely mean he'd also have to go. Right?

Wrong! There was some deliberation on the touchline as Mr Williamson consulted with his assistant (always something I hate just when we've been awarded a penalty and I'm sure the O's were quite happy to spin it out for as long as possible to try and distract Holty from taking the kick) and after what seemed an eternity Nelson was eventually shown a yellow card. Nothing like consistency with these penalty incidents, and that certainly was nothing like consistency. Whatever. Holty calmly stepped up to take the kick and although Nelson went the right way, the pace of the ball meant he never really looked like saving it. Two up, and Holt's goal tally suddenly looking heaps better.

After that the game simply opened up for Forest as the afternoon just turned into one of those occasions when we simply relaxed and started to enjoy ourselves, playing some lovely football and carving open the O's defence in the process. And twenty minutes after the penalty we were three up. Brecks started the move which set Kris Commons off on a run from the half way line down the right. The box was packed with players (mainly defenders) so there didn't appear to be any immediate danger from Orient's point of view. But they had reckoned without Commons continuing to cut in, and from fifteen yards out he unleashed a shot out of seemingly nothing at all. Nelson never got a whiff of it and the ball sailed past him to his right before going in off the far post.

Time for a few changes on both sides - Davies got a deserved standing ovation as he was replaced by Emile Sinclair, and a few minutes later Matt Thornhill had another chance to join the action as he came on for Cohen. Another one of those occasions when the game is over as a contest there's no better chance to give the youngsters a chance to see what they can do, especially since we were making space and passing the ball around for fun by now. The Orient defence was looking pretty pulled apart at this stage, an ideal opportunity for the likes of Sinclair to run at them. And this he managed with devastating effect, first when he came close to benefitting from some good work by Sammy and Commons, ultimately just missing the ball as it flew across the face of goal, but more than made up for it with a minute to go when he turned provider for young Thornhill by running deep into the box with the ball before squaring it for Matt who had a simple job of gently poking it home to complete the scoreline.

If I'm being really honest, I'd say four-nil rather flattered us today, but by the same token how often do we get a chance to say that, especially with a scoreline as emphatic as this? Orient will no doubt feel similar to how we felt at the Priest Field a couple of weeks back when looking back on a few missed chances which might easily have changed the entire nature, not to mention outcome of the game. Yes, we did have one or two scary moments, especially when Thornton and Barcham went very close, and it has to be said Smudge was man of the match by a fair distance today.

But of greater significance was the way individual performances combined to make an impressive team performance, especially when certain departments have had a makeshift look about them, and the fact this is not the first time this season we've been in this situation either. A case of pulling together just when we've needed to, and producing the kind of result we certainly wouldn't have achieved twelve months ago.

And therein lies the warning, which Calderwood was readily able to acknowledge after today's game. We are still perilously thin on the ground up front and although we are already without Agogo and Tyson, the cavalry in the form of back-up strikers is still yet to show up - a situation which really ought to have been addressed by now, and needs to be without further delay. Whether Leon Best is the right man to be brought in or not only time will tell, but there must be no repeat of last season's strike force simply disintegrating, causing ill fortune to compound some bad calls and ultimately cost us promotion. The situation is in our hands now, with several of our next few fixtures against the chasing pack (including two pops at Carlisle who blew it late on at Doncaster today), and being adequately prepared for those is going to be vital.

One thing's for sure though. Performances like today's show us who's up for the job, and make the most of your time to shine like everyone did today is reason enough to give Forest fans something to smile about.

Ref Watch: Iain Williamson - Not the most competent ref we've had all season, but I guess we have to be thankful for the penalty awarded.

Entertainment Value: I'd say we got our money's worth today. 8/10

Atmosphere: Fairly upbeat, even from the early stages of the game; definite air of contentment by the final whistle.

Highlights: Great individual performances from everyone, and solid teamwork too - not often we get the chance to say that! Yet another clean sheet; good to see Julian Bennett back today, even if he wasn't needed.

Lowlights: One or two defensive lapses might have put a completely different complexion on the game, with Sean Thornton nearly making us pay, but that was about it.

Stinker: Not today.

Stormer: Everyone deserves praise today, although despite the comfortable scoreline Smudge still made some important saves to maintain our clean sheet; Grant Holt, in a reversal of fortune did exactly what was expected of him today, and led the line well.