Forest take control with spot of help

13 April 2012

Kris Commons and James Perch converted penalties in either half to ensure Nottingham Forest left the cider country without a hangover and in control for next Friday's League One play-off semi-final second leg.

Forest boss Colin Calderwood claims the second spot kick — scored by Perch in the last minute — was a blow that leaves Yeovil with a daunting task at the City Ground next week.

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Commons: Converted penalty for Forest

But Calderwood, twice unsuccessful in play-off semi-finals with Northampton, will not be getting complacent. He said: "The second penalty was an important goal for us because it came so late in the game and is a psychological blow for them.

"But no advantage is ever big enough. It will be important to get the first goal and then they will be under even more pressure."

Yeovil manager Russell Slade claimed Commons' 23rd-minute penalty was debatable. He said: "Some referees give those decisions and some don't, but that referee always seems to give them.

"Now we've got a mountain to climb at the City Ground. We need to regroup and be positive."

Slade's side were the more positive early on and almost took a seventh-minute lead.

Forest looked as though they were about to concede when Paul Morris split their defence but Arron Davies' effort was well read by Forest keeper Paul Smith.

Marcus Stewart was the next to test Smith with a fizzing 20-yard shot andmoments later he slipped over after being set up by Davies' 50-yard run.

Forest survived before taking the lead in controversial circumstances. Most of Huish Park was incensed by referee Nigel Miller's decision to award a penalty after Nathan Jones was judged to have tripped Perch.

Commons, who had played Perch in, coolly put Forest ahead. Yeovil almost equalised three minutes later when Stewart's chip into the penalty area was headed just off target by Wayne Gray while Smith denied Gray with his legs shortly afterwards.

Forest endured a nervous second half and Stewart headed Andy Lindegaard's right-wing cross against the post on 73 minutes.

But Forest struck in the final minute when Terrell Forbes chopped down Jack Lester and Perch scored from the spot.

Calderwood said: "We had all the boys taking penalties during the week just in case and it was just as well."

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