Forgetful Forest lose the knack of losing

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Summer time in Nottingham, 2009.

A promised revolution at Meadow Lane â a foreign takeover, Sven-Göran Eriksson, mountains of cash, and later Sol Campbell arrives as the first big name, big money signing of the season.

The lads at Sky Sports News couldn't get enough of it.

Meanwhile their city neighbours skulked in the shadows of the Magpies' media glare.

But this is probably just how Forest's wily Scottish boss Billy Davies would have wanted it.

Fast forward to mid-September and a 0-1 home loss to a first-half strike from BlackpoolâÂÂs Charlie Adam.

You have to turn the clock back even further â to 10 months yesterday (Thursday) â to find the last time they returned empty-handed from their Championship travels, a 5-0 loss to Premier-bound Burnley.

ThatâÂÂs a marvellous 15 away games unbeaten. It must be pretty good to be part of the travelling Forest faithful these days.


"Up yours, Burnley!"

Despite a couple of early home losses this term, this point-grabbing away form has helped Daviesâ men stretch their unbeaten league run to a more-than-impressive 17 games.

For the moment at least, they looked to have spoiled Newcastle and West BromâÂÂs private promotion party.

No one's talking about County any more. And Big Sol's done a runner, too.

Davies has been there and done it before with Derby â as well as taking Preston to two successive play-offs â and the young squad he has assembled on the banks of the Trent is playing with a carefree exuberance reminiscent of David OâÂÂLearyâÂÂs easy-on-the-eye Leeds starlets of 2001.

To repeat Kewell, Bowyer & CoâÂÂs Champions League heroics might be an impossibility in the current climate for the likes of Forest â especially when billionaire-backed, Martin O'Neill-managed Aston Villa are struggling to get there.

For a club who in 2005 suffered the ignominy of being the only European Cup winners ever to fall into their countryâÂÂs third tier, this is improvement indeed.

When you consider that only once in a whole decade have they finished higher than mid-table in the Championship, you might also say that itâÂÂs been long overdue.

Davies has four proven strikers at his disposal â Rob Earnshaw, Dexter Blackstock, Dele Adebola and Nathan Tyson â who do a good job of complementing one another as well.

If things do start to unravel, it shouldnâÂÂt be through a lack of goals.

Lee Camp, acquired from QPR in the summer for what now looks like a bargain ã100,000, has been the epitome of steadiness between the sticks.

Throw in the international full-back duo of Chris Gunter and (Villa loanee) Nicky Shorey, and the means to the end of that lofty league placing are becoming apparent.


Billy Davies eyes promotion

But it's in midfield where the Reds are really ticking.

The shrewd acquisition of stalwart Paul McKenna â who worked under Davies at Preston previously â  has proved to be a key part of the promotion charge.

There might even be some January additions to the ranks, with the likes of Spurs' talented but unsettled Welshman Gareth Bale being touted.

If Davies does get the men he wants then it'd be foolish to write off Forest's title aspirations.

They're five points behind leaders Newcastle, who have a game in hand, so there is still a gap that needs bridging at the top.

Yeah. 'Mutual consent'. Yawn. Oh, really?


A happier Hart

He didn't even get the half-season we predicted a few weeks ago. Five games was enough for the relationship to become untenable.

That's nine different managers in just over two years. Madness.

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