Sport

Commons completes comeback

SOCCER ENGLISH FA CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAYS: Nottingham Forest 2 Derby County 3 OF ALL the agonising ways for Nottingham Forest…

DANIEL TAYLOR at The City Ground
Thu Feb 05 2009 - 00:00

SOCCER ENGLISH FA CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAYS: Nottingham Forest 2 Derby County 3OF ALL the agonising ways for Nottingham Forest to lose to their local rivals, there could be nothing more galling than the decisive blow being inflicted by a player who had moved from one end of Brian Clough Way to the other last summer. Kris Commons used to boast of being a lifelong Forest supporter but he settled this pulsating tie with an elegant swipe of his left boot.

In doing so, Commons confirmed his new status as a hero of the Derby supporters, completing a comeback to set up a fifth-round tie with Manchester United. Forest had started brilliantly but, ravaged by injuries, they could not capitalise on taking an early 2-0 lead and faded badly.Forest were ahead inside the opening minute, courtesy of Chris Cohen and a small deflection. When Nathan Tyson made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 13 minutes it looked as though Nigel Clough’s team might be swamped by his former team.

It could have been even worse for Clough had referee Chris Foy decided to send off goalkeeper Stephen Bywater for bringing down Tyson for the penalty. But Derby rallied and in the 28th minute Rob Hulse headed beyond Paul Smith from eight yards. The game was a lot more even after that. The problem for Forest was with Tyson their only fit striker, their tactics were limited to exploiting his pace. On the hour, Derby got the equaliser when Teale crossed and Paul Green rose the highest to nod the ball past Smith.

Soon afterwards Forest’s captain James Perch was stretchered off and the game lurched in Derby’s favour. Commons hit a 30-foot drive against a post and when he tried again a couple of minutes later his shot looped over Smith from the edge of the penalty area.

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST(4-4-1-1): Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Wilson, Thornhill, Perch (Byrne, 70), McGugan, McLeary (Heath, 81), Cohen, Tyson (Newbold, 85). Subs not used: Darlow, Bencherif, Reid, Whitehurst.

DERBY COUNTY(4-4-2): Bywater, Connolly, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, McEveley, Barazite, Savage, Green, Teale; Commons, Hulse (Ellington, 82). Subs not used: Carroll, Stewart, Villa, Sterjovski, Todd, Pearson.

Referee: C Foy.