Source: Team_Talk
Blues edge out Forest in cup replay
Midfielder Barry Ferguson broke the deadlock 16 minutes into the second half and sealed a fortunate victory for the home side.[LNB]Blues fielded a full strength side but were often second best against a Forest line-up which showed seven changes from the team that had overcome West Brom on Friday.[LNB]They were indebted to two fine saves from keeper Joe Hart for keeping them on level terms before Ferguson settled the issue in front of just 9,399 fans on a bitterly cold evening.[LNB]Forest boss Billy Davies has made it clear his main priority is gaining promotion from the Championship.[LNB]But the display of his back-up players showed Forest have sufficient quality in depth to sustain their challenge despite their 18 game unbeaten run coming to an end.[LNB]City, in contrast, are now unbeaten in 14 matches although this was one of their least convincing displays of the campaign.[LNB]Forest began promisingly and came close to taking the lead after only 55 seconds.[LNB]Former Blues striker Dele Adebola shook off the challenge of Scott Dann and sent over a looping centre which was met by Nathan Tyson and his powerful header flew only inches wide.[LNB]Luke Chambers failed to make the most of a half chance after being found in space by Chris Cohen and Hart was able to grasp the shot above his head.[LNB]Forest continued to look the more threatening and Gareth McCleary sent a header wide from a cross from Adebola.[LNB]It was 26 minutes before Blues had a semblance of chance but Sebastian Larsson sliced his shot wide after be teed up by James McFadden.[LNB]Forest keeper and skipper Lee Camp made his first save of the evening from Larsson three minutes later but he comfortably dealt with a low 25-yard drive.[LNB]McFadden tried to curl a shot wide of Camp into the corner of the net from the angle of the box but it drifted well off target.[LNB]But City required two excellent saves from Hart to keep them on level terms at the interval.[LNB]The on-loan Manchester City player excelled himself in thwarting David McGoldrick at point blank range after an Adebola centre had been deflected into his path.[LNB]Then Hart saved his side again in pushing away a fiercely struck shot from Tyson before City skipper Stephen Carr completed the clearance.[LNB]McLeish would have wanted a positive response from his side after an inept opening 45 minutes.[LNB]But it was Forest who created the first opportunity and Adebola was just wide with a downward header from Tyson's left-wing centre.[LNB]Tyson had another chance when a flick on from McGoldrick left him unmarked 12 yards out but he took his eye off the bar and it slipped underneath his foot.[LNB]There was a rare opportunity for Camp to show his worth and he clung onto a low drive from Christian Benitez away to his left.[LNB]Then after 61 minutes it was against the run of play that Ferguson broke the deadlock for the home side with his first goal for the club.[LNB]Benitez was the creator and teed up Ferguson who crashed a left-footed drive past Camp from 15 yards out into the corner of the net.[LNB]Camp pulled off a fine save to keep out Roger Johnson's close range header from Larsson's corner.[LNB]Tyson could have levelled for Forest but side-footed wide from six yards out following a Lewis McGugan centre.[LNB]Cameron Jerome had a shot cleared off the line from Chambers after he had slipped the ball wide of Camp.[LNB]Ferguson was booked in injury-time for a foul on James Perch.[LNB][LNB]
