sherm

November started with some good news, Tomas Pekhart joining on a three month loan from Tottenham. The 17 year old Czech under 21 international was a big strong powerful lad, and he would provide some good cover upfront for the rest of the strikers. The opening game of the month saw Doncaster the visitors, and they really set out their stall for a point. Their 5-4-1 formation stifled us, so much so that we only had 4 shots on goal in normal time. It wasn't until the 3rd minute of injury time that we grabbed the winner, substitute Grant Holt heading home Bastian's cross and securing all three points for the team.

---

"You know, it's 15 games since we last lost in the league?"

Dave had a knack for knowing things that slipped me by, and he came up with another gem in training

"Really? I didn't think it was that many"
"Yeah, 15. 8 points clear at the top and best goal difference in the league"
"Nice. Well if we keep that up through the season then the Championship shouldn't be a problem"

--

Nigel Doughty had popped his head round the door the following day. He had a smile on his face, a sight which was pleasant to see, as if he had been in a fould mood following our recent good form then it wouldn't bode well.

"Mark, everything OK?"
"Couldn't be better Nigel. Yourself?"
"Perfect. The team are playing well, good form at the moment, and I think promotion is a very reasonable target"
"Glad to hear it. It's also good to see that you're under the wage budget and still with transfer funds left. I always like to see that"
"Well I'll do my best to see that's how it stays. I want promotion just as much as you Nigel"
"Good to hear. Keep up the good work Mark"

Keeping the board happy was something I wasn't the greatest at, especially in my playing days. At least Nigel and his board members were pleased with our start to the season. I had every intention of keeping it that way too.

sherm

The F.A Cup had thrown us up a fairly simple game on paper, Conference side Grays Athletic the opposition. They were doing well in the league, looking good for a play-off place, and I was expecting a win but I still had the though of a banana skin, and until we progressed I always had that niggling doubt.

Several first team players were rested, but come the final whistle it had made no difference, as we put four goals past the conference team. They battled hard, but our quality sone through. Grant Holt was the star of the show, grabbing a hat-trick, while Craig Lindfield scored the other one. They did draw level after 38 minutes, Howe heading home, but the game was well beyond their reach and we progressed through to the next round

---

We travelled down to Merseyside for the game against 7th placed Tranmere, although the ninetieth minute left me wishing I hadn't. It was a crap game, neither side finding the back of the net. The chances were few and far between, a total of three shots finding the target. A point away from home is better than nothing, and I couldn't be too unhappy with the boys. We still held a substantial lead at the top of the table and were looking well set for promotion

sherm

"Joanne what's wrong? You havent been yourself for a few days now"

Jo had been quiet, not her usual self at all. I sat down next to her, putting my arm around her before posing the question.

"No nothing, honest. I'm not feeling all that great that's all"
"OK. Well if there's anything at allw rong, you can talk to me"
"I know. Thankyou darling"
"No problem. I'll go and make you a drink..."
"Nick...there is something. I had a letter the other day. From Paul"
"Right. Well what did the letter say?"
"He want's a meeting. Want's me to waive all my rights to him when the divorce goes through"
"Well don't do it. Just tell him you want what you're entitled to"
"It's not that simple. He knows I'm with someone, but if he found out it was you...I don't know what he'd do"
"You just listen to me Jo. He won't do anything. He's got to go through me first. So you just relax, don't worry, and trust me OK?"
"Yeah. OK. Thanks sweetheart. I really appreciate it"
2All part of the service. Now, get your coat. I'm taking you for a few drinks"

---

The month was rapidly drawing to a close, and Crewe visited the City Ground. Again we started badly, and we were lucky to go in at half time level, Crewe missing four or five good chances, but we bucked our ideas up in the second half, Vaughan and Tyson both having good chances, but for the second successive game we failed to find the net. Rune Pedersen managed to keep a clean sheet however, and we claimed a point with a goalless draw.

The quarter final of the Johnstones Paint Trophy saw us travel down to Gillingham, a game which meant nothing to me. The reserve team players got their chance, although ninety minutes later we had seen ourselves eliminated from the competition, goals from Guylian Ndumbu-Nsungu and Danny Haynes sending Gillingham through. I wasn't too disappointed, although the lads were down hearted, but the League One title was my priority

sherm

November 2006 Summary
(League One unless stated)

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Doncaster
Gr. Holt (90)

Grays Athletic 1-4 Nottingham Forest (F.A Cup 1st Round)
Howe (38) : Gr. Holt (14,47,87) Lindfield (76)

Tranmere 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Crewe Alexandra

Gillingham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Ndumbu-Nsungu (39) Haynes (pen. 73)

sherm

Jo still had worries about her ex finding out she was with me, but I wasn't too worried. It was a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. He wouldn't have a clue she was with me, surely he couldn't find it out. I had a niggling doubt, but I was pretty confident he wouldn't find out about me and Jo.

The opening game of December saw Stockport visit the City Ground in the F.A Cup. Again, I wasn't all that bothered about the competition, but I was well aware that if we beat the League Two side then we could land a plum tie with a Premiership side. I decided to rest a few of the regular starters, a move which made no difference to the result. Craig Lindfield and Wes Morgan scored first half goals, while Scott Dobie added a third just before the hour mark to give us a nice comfortable win and progression into the next round.

--

"Mark, what are you doing for your birthday?"
"Dunno really. I was just going to go out for a meal"
"Well I'll treat you. It's your birthday and you've been good to me. I'll take you out"
"Right. OK. Thankyou. Do you want me to book the restaurant or are you going to do it?"
"No I'll do it. It's fine. I think I can manage it"

I walked into my office a couple of days later to find the chairman sat there waiting for me. My surprise was picked up on, Nigel seeming quite amused at the shocked look on my face

"Mark, how are you? Good I hope"
"I'm fine thankyou Nigel, yourself?"
"Couldn't be better. I just wanted to let you know that I had a phone call from Bolton"
"OK. What was that about?"
"Well as I'm sure you're well aware Sam Allardyce was sacked a few days ago, and they'd like permission to talk to you"
"Really? Wow. I didn't expect that..."

I had to consider for a moment, it really was unexpected. Bolton, a Premiership team, interested in me.

"Tell them I'm not interested Nigel. I'm happy here, and I want to see my contract out"
"That's excellent to hear. I'll let them know"

I couldn't believe that a Premiership club had wanted to talk to me about the vacant job. I had only been in management less than 6 months, with a League One team. I had to think whether or not I could handle the pressure. The key factor was my love for Forest, having been here 8 years as a player and a coach, and my loyalty to the club was the turning point for me staying at the City Ground

sherm

Two League One games in 5 days were enough to keep the team occupied, although Kris Commons and Nathan Tyson had picked up knocks in training, missing 2 weeks and 6 days respectively, meaning Grant Holt started alongside James Vaughan for the trip to Blackpool. They were a side who were in with a shout of a play off place, and they had some good players, but with the squad we had I felt we were comfortably better than every team in the league on our day. Holt had to be replaced by Craig Lindfield after 20 minutes of play, but the on loan Liverpool man gave us the lead just four minutes later, converting Beaumont's cross. We could, and probably should, have been 3 or 4 in front as we went into the interval, but we had to settle for just being one ahead. It made no difference in the end, James Vaughan's 60th minute volley enough to send us back to Nottingham with a full quota of points. Despite the fact we could have had more than the two we did score, it was sufficient enough for my liking.

2nd place Bristol City were our next opponents, and they were drastically falling behind us in points gained, so a win against them would send us a possible 12 points clear. Tyson was back in the starting line-up for the game, but it was Northern Irish midfielder Sammy Clingan who gave us the lead, heading home Smith's cross after 8 minutes. Our promotion rivals created chances, as did we, but it was the returning Nathan Tyson who sent us in two clear at the break, using his pace before firing across the Bristol City 'keeper into the far corner. Gary Johnson obviously fired his side up at the interval, Cole Skuse getting his side back into it four mintes into the half, but despite Johann's Smith sending off with 26 minutes left we managed to hold on and advance to 12 points clear at the top of League One.

sherm

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> PL W D L GD PTS1. NOTT'M FOREST 21 16 4 1 +30 522. Bristol City 21 11 7 3 +11 403. Brighton 21 10 7 4 +16 374. Scunthorpe 21 9 5 7 +5 325. Yeovil 21 10 2 9 0 326. Swansea 21 10 2 9 -1 32</pre>

---

I was leaving the ground after a long day, 12 hours spent preparing for the Christmas and New Year run-in, when my phone rang, interrupting my train of thought.

"Hello"
"Mr Hampton?"
"Speaking"
"Mr. Hampton, DCI John Byrne, Nottingham Police. Could I have a word with you?"
"Well I'm on the way home at the minute but I could make my way to the station if you like?"
"No it's quite urgent. I believe you were scheduled to meet a Mrs. Joanne Townsley for a meal tonight?"
"Yes that's right, we were going out to celebrate my birthday. Is there a problem?"
"You could say that. Your house has been burgled, and they were caught in the act by Mrs. Townsley. They panicked and attacked her"
"What? Jesus Christ. Is she OK?"
"Relatively she's fine yes, just a concussion and a few cuts and bruises, but if you'd like to visit her she's been taken to Nottingham General"
"Right yes thankyou. I'll be there as fast as I can"

Bloody Hell. I put my foot down and raced to the hospital, eventually walking into Joanne's room 15 minutes later. She had bruises on her face and a distant look in her eyes.

"Jo. It's me. Are you OK?"
"Hi darling. I've been better but I'm not bad in the circumstances"

She could barely talk properly, her voice was so weak. I felt nothing but guilt, like it was my fault.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I should never have left you on your own. I'll make it up to you, I promise"
"Don't be daft, it's not your fault. You didn't plan for someone to rob the house. I'm not sure what they took or anything..."
"Don't worry about that now, that's the least of my concerns right now. You just get some rest and I'll go and see the DCI outside. I'll be back as quick as I can"

..

I had gone back to the house to survey the damage and see what had been taken, but after half an hour it became obvious that whoever had broken in hadn't taken anything. That struck me as strange, especially considering some of the valuables in the house. Someone had obviously come looking for something in particular, and having not found it they decided to take it out on Joanne. Once I got my hands on the bastards who did it there would be serious reprecussions.

---

I was nowhere near in the right frame of mind for our trip to Gillingham, my mind still firmly on the events of a few days before. I had managed to pick a side eventually, and gave them a brief team talk, but my state of mind meant Dave had to take control of the side. He did a good job too, Rory Delap's 26th minute goal enough to give us a win, despite the fact Gillingham were by far the better side throughout the 90 minutes, but they found our Danish stopper Rune Pedersen in stunning form, as he deservedly earned a man of the match award.

With Joanne recovering well, she was allowed home a few days later, and I made sure that somebody was always at the house with her when I was unavailable. I didn't want her to be left alone at all now, at least not until she had got the attack out of her mind. I was even reluctant to go and do my job, but she had insisted I carry on as normal, so I took my place in the dugout for the home game against 3rd place Brighton. We eased through the game, controlling the midfield from start to finish, and a goal in each half was enough to seal the points, Gino Padula's penalty and a Ryan Lynch free-kick the difference making strikes.

irishregan

Enjoying this one mate. As you know from reading my stuff, Forest are my team, so I hope you do them proud, and keep this story up for as long as possible.

sherm

Cheers Irish. Glad to know you're enjoying the read

-----------------------

The Christmas period is always a busy time for any football team, and much of my time was taken up at the ground rather than at home with Jo. She was beginning to feel much more safe and gradually began to go out a bit more, with encouragement from her friends, and with her feeling safer I was a lot happier to go to work. Having spent a relaxing, quiet Christmas day together with a meal, a DVD and a bottle of wine, I was ready for the Boxing Day visit of Brentford to the City Ground. So far, they were the only side to beat us in the League, a fact which made myself and the boys hungry for revenge.

Come the final minute, we had done what we set out to do. Tyson and Vaughan grabbing the goals in a comfortable 3-1 win, although the first 15 minutes was a bit twitchy. Tyson opened the scoring on 8 minutes, beating the offside trap to side the ball underneath goalkeeper Nelson. They were soon level though, on loan midfielder Drew Surman curling his free kick past Pedersen's outstretched glove. We got back in front through Vaughan's header, before Tyson sealed the points with 7 minutes left, although the game wasn't without scares, Skulason and Kuffour both missing chances for their side.

December closed with a visit up to the top end of the country, to face Carlisle. I was very confident of a win considering we had put 5 past them back in August, but in the end we were very lucky to get out of Cumbria with all three points. We started the better of the sides, Nathan Tyson's 24th minute goal putting us on the lead, one which we held onto until the 70th minute, Rob Elvins equalising for his side. Three goals in the space of five minutes decided the game, Vaughan and Clingan scoring for us while Murray had a goal sandwiched in between. Still, I was happy to end the month on a high note and with a 100% record for the seven games we played

sherm

December 2006 Summary
(League One unless stated)

Nottingham Forest 3-0 Stockport (F.A Cup 2nd Round)
Lindfield (12) Morgan (43) Dobie (59)

Blackpool 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Lindfield (24) Vaughan (60)

Nottingham Forest 2-1 Bristol City
Clingan (8) Tyson (45) : Skuse (49)

Gillingham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Delap (26)

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brighton
Padula (pen. 42) Lynch (82)

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford
Tyson (8,83) Vaughan (36) : Surman (10)

Carlisle 2-3 Nottingham Forest
Elvins (70) Murray (86) : Tyson (24) Vaughan (84) Clingan (88)