Excellent City really can mix it with the big boys

After the day one disaster at home to Watford, I’ve missed the last two City games.
But am pleased to report that back to back wins at Scunthorpe and at home to Swansea meant today seventh placed City travelled to Nottingham Forest, second favourites for the title just three weeks ago.
I’ve just got back from the Forest game and am thrilled that City not only matched one of the supposed best teams outside the Premier League but could and possibly (putting yellow-tinted specs on) should have taken all three points.
And it was just great after 18 months in the wilderness to finally be playing at a big stadium – one of the proposed venues for the 2018 World Cup.
Had a good journey up with Gordo – notable for the fact we trailed Cabbage (aka the Club Canary coaches) for most of Norfolk. I managed to overtake one coach just as we arrived at the Farm House at Gedney, the traditional first stop for the City buses.
We were in and out in one minute – there were about ten coaches in there so instead I floored it towards a garage where one of the funniest things we have ever seen took place. A woman went into to use the toilets only to find them out of order. She turned round and pissed herself and started crying!
I know I shouldn’t laugh, but it was one of the funniest moments I have ever shared with Gordo. On to the football, we parked up just behind the City Ground, swerving the £10 and £5 car parks for a side road – some people are so lazy and just spend money on any old crap.
There was plenty of any old crap in the Club Shop, but pride of place apart from the replica European Cup was none other than former England and Forest midfielder Steve Hodge, seated at the back of the shop signing copies of his book.
We turned out backs on the key man of the England Mexico ’86 squad and took our seats behind the goal in the lower tier of the Bridgford Road stand.
City started excellently, and Chris Martin could have put City 2-0 up in the opening 20 minutes, clipping the woodwork twice.
Forest had three ex-City players in their starting side, Ryan Bertrand, Lee Camp and Robert Earnshaw - all three looked decidedly off key, however Bertrand was getting the better of Russell Martin down the left hand side on his forays forward.
After Dexter Blackstock fell over in the box, Forest had a penalty appeal turned down, but minutes later Radoslaw Majewski tried the same thing again, this time the ref bought it and Blackstock tucked home the penalty.
City deserved far more and soon equalised through Andrew Crofts and pushed on in the rest of the first half looking to take the lead.
The back five weren’t really tested for the rest of the game, save for an Earnshaw shot that hit the post. Ruddy, Martin, Ward and Barnett, did nothing spectacular, yet didn’t let themselves down, while Adam Drury was excellent on the left.
Across the middle, Crofts and Wes Hoolahan were busy, Korey Smith and Andrew Surman involved in patches, while Grant Holt put himself about as you would expect on his return to Nottinghamshire.
Man of the match was undoubtedly Super Chrissy Martin – he could have had a hat-trick, but went home without hitting the net. He’s so strong up front and crucial to our hopes of sneaking a play-off place.
In the end a 1-1 draw was probably a fair result. Forest have just three points from four games, we’ve taken seven.
If I were a Forest fan I’d have been impressed with Norwich for today was a day when the City side showed us fans for the first time this season that our team really does have the quality to mix it with the best in the division.