NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 CITY 3
League Division 1
29th December 1990
Attendance 24,937
scorers
City Quinn(11, 25) Clarke(75)
Forest Gaynor(14)
Ref L Shapter
City Coton, Brightwell, Pointon, Reid, Hendry, Redmond, White, Heath, Quinn, Megson, Ward – subs Clarke(64), Harper(unused)
Forest Crossley, Laws, Pearce, Walker, Chettle, Wilson, Carr, Keane, Clough, Gaynor, Parker – subs Starbuck(72), Crosby(85)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
CITY TAKE THE AXE TO FOREST
RONALD ATKIN WRITING IN THE OBSERVER 30TH DECEMBER 1990
Unless you happen to be a Forest diehard this was an entertaining match, as our most contests which pit lively attackers against doddering defences.
City were much the brisker and more committed, which is why they are this weekend celebrating their first away win since last April.
Forest had not previously leaked three goals at home this season, which is not to say they have not been giving them away by the bucketful elsewhere.
Considering that they field two key members of the England team in Walker and Pearce, the defence is alarmingly uncoordinated. Clough senior might need to reach for the blue pencil and the cheque-book any day now.
City, not much better in defence, at least had the 34 year-old Reid to organise their midfield and the lively Ward to run at and past the red shirts.
Manchester went ahead in the 11th minute when Quinn, the floodlight pylon who masquerades as a striker, comfortably headed in Brightwell’s free kick. Forest equalised at once as Parker’s fine through ball sent Gaynor in to round Coton and score coolly.
The real Malaise in Forest’s defence was exposed as City went in front again after 25 minutes From a short corner Pointon’s Hard-driven cross was headed on to the underside of the bar By White and the ungainly Quinn was the quickest to react to the loose ball.
As his team continued to stand off, the Forest manager clambered from the dugout to bellow “get hold of the ball”. His advice, and presumably the half-time lecture did little to improve the performance. The closest Forest came to another goal was when Pearce, embarking on one of his rocket-launcher advances, was felled by Pointon, but the penalty appeal was ignored. The incensed Pearce promptly barrelled into the innocent Reid and was rightly booked.
With 17 minutes left Quinn cracked Forest’s offside trap to send away White, Whose cross was headed in at the far post by the unmarked substitute Clarke. It was the sort of goal, striking on the break, in which Forest once specialised. In those days they had a fine defence.
At the end Brian Clough waited by the tunnel to embrace his opposite number Reid. Perhaps it was to apologise for Pearce’s, dreadful foul. More likely he offered congratulations to the boss of a better team.