Randy Bumgardener
AKA Randy Bumgardener
On Commons
No more fairytales for Commons
Monday, August 31, 2009, 07:00
IT IS fair to say Kris Commons has enjoyed better days at the City Ground.
During his time on the banks of the Trent, the Skegby midfielder had conjured up some special moments.
Quality goals, killer passes and moments of magic to create openings out of nothing.
In short, he was one of a few players that could pull something out of the locker to change a game.
Such brilliance at the times was why he could be excused his off days and when he parted company with the club in the summer of 2008 after helping them win promotion back to the Championship, it was a blow.
He was unhappy a new deal had not been forthcoming after four seasons with Forest but when he rolled up on the other end of the A52 at Derby, it left him something of a hate figure at the City Ground.
Leaving the club he supported as a youngster to join their arch-rivals, it was unforgivable in many eyes.
So when the two teams were pitched together on four occasions in one season, the Reds fans had their chance to display that discontent at what they believed to be his betrayal.
Two draws at Pride Park were followed by his first return to the City Ground.
Some questioned whether he would turn up, many putting their money on him being injured.
Instead, he came, he took all the abuse on the chin and after Forest surrendered an early two-goal lead to be pegged back to 2-2 in the FA Cup replay back in February, Commons popped up.
In front of the Derby fans, he fired the winner and the Rams went through to meet Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup before inflicting another defeat on the Reds at the City Ground in the league.
It was Commons with plenty to laugh about come the end of his first season at Pride Park after another starring role at the City Ground – this time in a Derby shirt.
But on Saturday, the tables were finally turned. Not only do the Forest faithful get the chance to enjoy a first victory in almost six-and-a-half years against their local rivals, they also got the opportunity to see Commons fall on his sword.
As expected, he was booed every time he touched the ball and goaded about his weight. He had heard it all before.
A quick throw in from the midfielder looked inspired after 21 minutes, freeing Stephen Pearson who gifted Gary Teale the chance to equalise but his shot was poor. It would have been another inspired Commons moment.
Instead, he was guilty of a needless foul moments later and Chris Cohen's delivery teed up Dexter Blackstock to make it 2-0.
How would he make amends? Maybe a cheeky piece of skill, remind the Reds of his magical talent and at the same time pull his side back into the game.
But a nutmeg attempt on Paul McKenna just before the break backfired big time.
New skipper McKenna was too long in the tooth to fall for it, blocking it out and in trademark fashion, applying a simple layoff for the others to go on the attack.
And they did with Blackstock turning provider and executing the pass for Tyson to finish and give the Reds a three-goal cushion at the break.
If the ground could have opened up there and then, Commons would have welcomed it. Instead, as Forest celebrated, McKenna was straight in his face, no doubt reminding him not to try such a cheap trick again.
Shoulders drooped; he trudged off for the restart with McKenna still offering a volley of probably unrepeatable words in his direction.
As they resumed for the second half, Commons was missing. Pretty much like he had been in the first period, to be fair.
His number was up, fellow winger Lee Croft replacing him at the interval to the delight of the home fans when it was announced over the tannoy. In his absence, Derby mounted a fightback but Forest hung on for a first victory over their bitter rivals in nine matches.
A day to forget for Commons on the banks of the Trent. It just remains which Commons turns up when Forest visit Pride Park in January.
And Kenny Burns
Burns: Great to see Forest finally beat Derby
Monday, August 31, 2009, 07:00
THOSE poor old Derby supporters will still be moping into their breakfast this morning, still hurting from the pain of losing to their arch rivals.
Well, they should spare a thought for the Reds fans. They have had to wait six-and-a-half years for this after eight games went by without a win.
But at the ninth attempt on Saturday, Billy Davies' men finally pulled it off. But boy, did they make hard work of it.
The first half was great. In my eyes, Forest could have got five goals and played well. Wes Morgan and Luke Chambers were brilliant at the heart of defence, Radoslaw Majewski scored a wonder strike and it went well.
In the second half, well, the Reds seemed to panic a bit. Two deflected strikes saw Derby back in the game and Forest had to hang on.
Maybe playing 120 minutes against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup in midweek did take its toll, while Derby were without a game. But, they should not have let that happen and should have seen the game out more comfortably.
I don't want to get negative though because at the end of the day it was three well-earned points. It was a first and much needed victory and it came just before the international break. Brilliant. Oh, and did I mention it was against their main rivals!
Kris Commons returned but went into hiding. He had a shocker and for me, did not look fit. Maybe Nigel Clough took a gamble by starting him but it did not pay off, he was anonymous.
It was not a return he would have wanted and Lee Croft came on for him at half time and caused plenty of problems.
But in the end not enough to help undo the damage of the first half when Forest were by far the better team.
The fans can enjoy the celebrations, so can the players and management staff, especially Davies against the club he took into the Premiership.
He might not say as much, but he would have been doing cartwheels inside. He would have absolutely loved every minute of it.
And so did the players and many are having a pop at Nathan Tyson for his after match celebrations.
He lifted out the corner flag and in front of almost 5,000 Rams fans made his way across waving it in the air, the Forest badge stuck in their faces.
Okay, so it was a little bit silly, naïve of the lad. He was wrong. But I think he was just smarting from when Robbie Savage produced similar scarf waving antics at the City Ground on two occasions last season.
Savage has been complaining but all his game is about is winding people up. That is all he can do because he has never been a top footballer.
He will not make the papers for his football skill or ability, just what he says so I have no sympathy for him.
Tyson got carried away, it was just the emotion of beating their bitter rivals coming out.
The players showed they cared, they were committed and passionate on the pitch. You could see that in every tackle, in the celebrations.
It is the perfect way to go into the international break, not like on the back of 5-1 hiding at Wolves, as was the case this time last year.
No, now Forest have a win under their belt and can search for a new defender in the coming few days. They still need that.
But enjoy this and now kick on.
And let's just hope it is not another six-and-a-half years until the next victory against Derby.
Oh, if only to see Burns vs Savage
