sherm

Boskailo visited Nottingham just 24 hours after the League match with Barnsley, and he and his agent had a look round the ground and the training facilities. When it finally got to discussing terms, I was delighted when it turned into a nice, easy process and the Swedish under-21 international signed within half an hour

"I know that you have what it takes to be successful here Dennis. You're a quality player and I believe you will be a star"
"It's every players dream to play in the Premiership. Do you think we'll be there soon?"
"Absolutely. Especially when we are adding top drawer players such as yourself. I know we can be a force to be reckoned with"
"Well I love the country, the ground is better than anything I've ever played in, and the training facilities are awesome. What would the contract be?"
"Three years, £1,100 a week, with a £25,000 signing on fee"
"That's a lot more than I earn in Sweden. Mark, you have yourself a new player"
"Excellent. If you just sign here, then it will be confirmed. You won't be eligible to play till the window opens in January but you'll be match fit if you keep playing in Sweden"

---

With Boskailo having agreed to join up with the side in January, I was in a buoyant mood going into our League Cup game. The draw had pitted us against Premiership opposition, in the shape of Reading, and I was delighted because I wanted the lads to test themselves against higher opposition. Come the final whistle, we hadn't had a test, the Premiership side had taken us apart, running through the defence like a hot knife through butter, as we succumbed to a devastating 4-0 defeat. All four goals came from Dave Kitson, and we were three behind after less than twenty minutes. His 4th, twelve minutes from the end, saw the signal for thousands of fans to get up and out of their seats and leave the ground, a sight I was not happy about. The lads were disappointed, but I consoled them in the dressing room. It just proved to me that we were not yet ready for the top flight

Another defeat followed a few days later, as our trip down to London to face QPR saw us neaten 3-1. Malcolm Christie cancelled out Michael Parkhurst's opener, and it looked like we might take control of the game, but goals from Barnard, right on half time, and Jamie O'Hara just after the hour mark sent us tumbling to a defeat, but our second half performance was just not good enough, as we lay down and let the Londoners roll all over us. We can't afford to do that against anybody in the division

sherm

"Are you busy tonight?"

Jo had walked into the room in just a towel, a habit she had when she wanted something. She tended to get her own way too

"Well that depends. Are you taking that towel off?"
"I might. Fancy a Chinese?"
"Yeah don't see why not. We'll go pub after if you like?"
"Sure. Just give me an hour to get ready then we'll go OK?"
"Sounds good"

--

It was a good night, the restaurant Jo picked was terrific. We carried onto the pub, and although Jo left early I stayed on for a little while longer, chatting with the locals, who for their part weren't all that bothered whether I was Nottingham Forest manager or not. I left the pub around midnight, walking home by myself, although it was only 15 minutes away. As I turned the corner I felt a sharp blow on the back of my head. I turned round to face whoever was behind me but felt another blow to my face. Everything around me went blurry, before one last blow caught me on the back of my head and felled me to the floor

I woke up the next morning to find Joanne by my bedside, nursing me, a sight which I could easily get used to

"Morning. How you feeling?"
"Bit of a headache but never mind. What happened?"
"You got jumped from behind on the way home from the pub"
"Did I? Probably some kids"
"Well they didn't take anything"
"OK. Well I've got a game to go to. I'll see you later ok?"
"Are you sure? I don't know if you're fit enough"
"I'm fine, honest. I'll see you later"

--

Charlton were the visitors to the City Ground for our next game, and we did pick up a point that to be fair, we were fortunate to. Despite Rory Delap putting us ahead after 21 minutes, Charlton had the better of the match, with both Bent's missing good chances, but it was Marcus Bent that equalised, heading home after 76 minutes. They could, and maybe should have won the match, but it certainly was a point we didn't deserve.

Another relegated side were our opponents three days later, as Fulham made their appearance at the City Ground. It was a game in which we ran riot, and everything we touched turned to goals. We had hit 5 by the half time whistle, braces from O'Brien and Idiakex with Grant Holt sandwiching a goal in the middle, but we only managed one more in the second half, Terry Dixon's last minute goal cancelling out Runstrom's 65th minute strike. The team were fabulous, and it was without a shadow of a doubt the best performance under my management so far, as we ran out 6-1 winners

sherm

September 2007 Summary
(Championship unless stated)

Coventry 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Stead (45) : Dixon (13)

Barnsley 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Whaley (30) : Diaby (7) Gr. Holt (62)

Nottingham Forest 0-4 Reading (League Cup 2nd Round)
Kitson (pen. 2,17,18,pen. 78)

QPR 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Parkhurst (21) Barnard (45) O'Hara (61) : Christie (27)

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Charlton
Delap (21) : M. Bent (76)

Nottingham Forest 6-1 Fulham
O'Brien (18,25) Gr. Holt (28) Idiakez (39,43) Dixon (90) : Runstrom (65)