Forest Boffin

The year: 1990 (ish). The place: a training pitch just off Quarry Lane, Field Mill, Mansfield. " Boffin , come here." To be honest this guy scared me, but I wandered over. "Listen, if there's one thing I want you to remember from tonight, it's this: when under pressure defending long or high balls, never let the ball bounce. Now get lost." This adolescent memory has been bouncing around my head all night, but what ought to be remembered is an exciting game of football between two highly motivated sides. Leicester set up as we thought they would in our preview , and were clearly up for this game, starting brightly. The Foxes played one of the more stylish brands of football we've seen away sides use at The City Ground - in fact only QPR, Derby and Blackpool have out-passed them this season, although they were prepared to send it long when necessary; an ability which has sometimes been lacking from Forest. The Reds' as expected deployed Reid ...

As the Captains of the West rode towards Mordor with what remained of their battered army, they knew they were approaching the critical point of their campaign, and also that the odds were heavily stacked against them. Perhaps this is how Billy Davies feels this week, leading his injury ravaged Forest side against the dark forces of Leicester and Burnley. League-Champions-elect Leicester will probably play a 4-4-2 against Forest, pushing forward either full-back to support their two creative midfielders, winger Lloyd Dyer and Anthony Knockaert, who plays on the right but tends to drift inside. They have a solid core which protects the centre of the pitch effectively, and a plethora of dangerous forwards who between them provide a variety of threats for every occasion. While scouting them for this preview, I have been extremely impressed with Jamie Vardy. He is not the most high-profile player on their team – perhaps that honour goes to Knockaert or Nugent – but in my opinion h...

Forest welcome Leicester City to The City Ground as the season reaches a frantic climax. At Forest Boffin , we're in a state of ambivalence: there is dread at seeing rekindled hope kicked into touch by the boots of David Nugent, tinged with excitement at the glittering hope of Forest overcoming the odds and somehow making the playoffs after all. At one stage it appeared Billy would have secured those extra games before now - while disappointed this was not to be, we must not forget that after the first two thirds of this season, anything from here on is a bonus. Leicester come into this final game on abysmal form. After magnificent start to a season full of promise, they have faltered since the end of January, winning only two of their seventeen games (in all competitions). Canvassing their fans has been more difficult than usual as they have been mostly tight lipped - I have even been accused of being Natalie Jackson spying for Billy - a lighthearted accusation, but one ...