Forest 2-1 Hartlepool

Hartlepool United slipped out of the play off places after the loss against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground
Teams
Report
Danny Wilson made one chage to the side that drew with Carlisle as new loan signing Danny Coles replaced Jamie McCunnie who dropped to the bench.

The opening exchages were when the sides set their stalls out, both sides were going to play football. Forest were the first to have a chance, a Kris Commons free kick was smashed into the wall with 5 minutes on the clock.

The early pressure from Forest continued and they took the lead soon after, a long cross from Julian Bennett was headed back from Junior Agogo and Kris Commons nipped in behind Michael Nelson to head home.

Forest kept attacking and Jan Budtz had to be on his toes to save a long range strike from Agogo. Pools first real chance came from a set piece, Ritchie Humphreys floated in a corner but Michael Nelson’s header was weak and posed no problem for Phil Smith in the home goal.

The Reds had another chance from a long range Chris Cohen effort but Pools came back more as the half drew to a close.

With just 7 minutes of the first half left Pools equalised, former Forest man Ian Moore played the ball in to Ritchie Barker who lost his man and headed past Smith to bring Pools level.

Pools ended the half the stronger side and could have went in ahead but Gary Liddle scuffed his shot towards the Forest goal where Smith parried away.

HT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Hartlepool

The second half began where the first ended with Pools looking the better side but we couldn’t convert our possesion to goals.

Forest could have had a chance but Agogo failed to connect with a cross and Jan Budtz collected the ball, the rest of the action was down the other end as Ian Moore had two chances, one of which required a fingertip save from the Forest keeper.

Forest came back into the game and grabbed an equaliser on 83 minutes. Kris Commons beat his man and unleashed a shot that Budtz could only parry. The ball fell to Junior Agogo who hit a shot from a tight angle into the back of the net.

Pools pushed but couldn’t find an equaliser, the referee blew his whistle to condemn Pools to their second defeat in three games.

FT: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Hartlepool

Comment
I’m not sure what Wilson was playing at dropping Jamie McCunnie for Danny Coles, McCunnie has been Wilson’s only summer signing who has truly impressed me yet he is dropped. How has this new guy jumped ahead of Ben Clark in the pecking order?

We have a JPT game against Lincoln on Tuesday and should bounce back before the big game against Bristol Rovers on Friday night. I don’t want to be all doom and gloom but we need 3 points against Brizzle to stop us from losing touch with the play off pack.

We seemed to lack cutting edge again today, how about bringing a striker in Danny? or maybe he thinks we need another defender.

Teams
Hartlepool: Budtz, Coles (McCunnie 77), Nelson, Antwi, Humphreys, Brown (Foley 81), Liddle, Boland, Monkhouse (Porter 86), Barker, Moore
Subs: Clark, Robson

Nottingham Forest: Smith, Wilson, Chambers, Morgan, Commons, Tyson (Holt 64), Cohen, Clingan, Lennon, Agogo, Bennett
Subs: Breckin, Perch, Sinclair, Roberts