Nottingham Forest

Calderwood earns monthly accolade
Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood has been named as the League One manager of the month for November. Forest won all their league matches during the month including a 4-1 victory against Southend United. Calderwood's side impressed during November and scored eight goals and only conceded once. The other contenders for the award were Walsall's Richard Money, Leyton Orient's Martin Ling and Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie.

Bennett facing further month out
Nottingham Forest defender Julian Bennett is facing a further month out of action following a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The left back has undergone a scan which revealed a hamstring tear which is likely to keep him on the sidelines until the new year. Forest manager Colin Calderwood told his club's website: "The scan showed that there is a big tear. "The physios will treat the symptoms because it can sometimes be deceptive."

Calderwood happy with incentive
Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood is confident his side will use the lure of playing Liverpool to knock Luton out of the FA Cup second round on Tuesday. The winners of the rescheduled tie will host the Reds on 6 January. Calderwood told SSB: "I don't think it will (affect us negatively). I think it will drive everyone on. "The prize is bigger than the tie and the chance to play against Liverpool at home is a fantastic incentive and would be a wonderful occasion for us."

Calderwood defends Lockwood error
Boss Colin Calderwood said Nottingham Forest's fans were wrong to boo Matt Lockwood after his error gifted Northampton a goal in the 2-2 draw. The defender was substituted on 81 minutes, but Calderwood was not happy with the reception Lockwood got. "The crowd reaction to his substitution was very disappointing," Calderwood told SSB. "He made one mistake trying to play football out of defence, but apart from that, what else did he do wrong?"

Forest red card appeal rejected
Nottingham Forest have lost their appeal against Kelvin Wilson's red card in the 2-1 win over Huddersfield on New Year's Day. Wilson was sent off for a professional foul when he was deemed to have blocked Malvin Kamara after heading the ball back to keeper Paul Smith. Forest complained about the decision and the resultant one-match ban. But the appeal was rejected and the defender will now miss the game against Leyton Orient on 12 January.

Forest make move for striker Best
Nottingham Forest have bid around £1m for Coventry striker Leon Best, reports SSB. Boss Colin Calderwood was keen on Best, 21, during the summer but he opted to move to the Ricoh Arena after seeing out his contract with Southampton. Forest, who have yet to sign anyone in the transfer window, are without Junior Agogo for at least a month as he is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. Nathan Tyson is also set to be out for another week with a hamstring injury.

Dowie keen to keep wantaway Best
Coventry boss Ian Dowie insists he hopes to keep Nottingham Forest target Leon Best despite the striker handing in a transfer request. Forest have already had two Best bids rejected and manager Colin Calderwood said on Friday that he would not be rushing ahead with a third offer. Dowie said: "We'll have to wait and see what happens, but I will recommend that the request is rejected." Best, 21, was left out of the Coventry side that played Burnley on Saturday. Dowie added: "I am not going to hang him out to dry but it doesn't help us." Last week Forest offered around £1m for the 21-year-old, whose outstanding transfer fee owed to Southampton has led to Coventry being put under a transfer embargo. Coventry chairman Ray Ranson released a statement in response to the offer, saying: "This offer was immediately rejected out of hand." Calderwood was keen to sign the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad member last summer but the player opted to move to the Ricoh Arena. Forest, who have yet to sign anyone in the transfer window, are without Junior Agogo for at least a month as he is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. "I think there will be activity between now and the end of the transfer window and a certain amount of posturing from clubs," Calderwood added.

Calderwood happy with late show
Boss Colin Calderwood was a relieved man after seeing Nottingham Forest earn a late comeback draw away at Millwall. Forest missed a host of chances and needed two goals in the last five minutes to salvage a point. Calderwood told SSB: "There's a sense of relief that we've taken something and that we've got a reward for some very good play. "The only downside was the reaction at 2-0 down. We were a little bit frantic and a little bit anxious."

McParland fears Bastians may move
Notts County manager Ian McParland fears on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Felix Bastians will not extend his loan stay at Meadow Lane. Bastians was left out of the side for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Grimsby. And McParland confirmed the winger may have played his last game for Notts. "Felix was thinking about staying and it was quite positive," he said. "But we spoke again and he wants to hold off as there are a couple of clubs who are looking to take him on loan." McParland told SSB: "It's down to Felix and it's down to his agent but I've still left the door open for him."

Calderwood closes in on Hoskins
Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood will sign Watford striker Will Hoskins on loan until the end of the season on Friday. The Reds have agreed terms and the 21-year-old will complete his move when the loan window re-opens. Nottingham-born Hoskins joined Watford from Rotherham last season but failed to make an impression at Vicarage Road. He was on loan at Millwall earlier this season and may make his Forest debut against the Lions on Saturday.

Pressure mounting on Calderwood
Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur has hinted that manager Colin Calderwood could face the sack if the Reds are not promoted this season. Despite topping the table at Christmas, Forest are now fourth in League One and four points off the top two. But Arthur insists Calderwood's job is safe - at least for now. "Colin has a job to do and that's to get us promotion and we hope he achieves that. We'll review that in the summer," he told SSB. Arthur says it is crucial Forest try to bring stability to the City Ground after years of turmoil. "We've been searching for absolutely ages to have some continuity throughout the club," he said. But failure to climb out of League One would be seen as a failure and Calderwood's future as manager would once again be called into question. "It's unfair to make any predictions at this moment," Arthur said. "We are in fourth, we have a game in hand on the team in second and the next 18 matches are going to be very telling."

Penalty award upsets Calderwood
Colin Calderwood said Nottingham Forest deserved all three points from the 1-1 draw at Leeds and also felt the penalty against his side was harsh. Forest led 1-0 but conceded a late equaliser when Wes Morgan was adjudged to have fouled Tresor Kandol. "I feel very sorry for Wes," boss Calderwood told SSB. "He probably has got hold of the boy's shirt but the boy has got hold of his shirt and it's a fairly soft penalty to have to suffer." The draw means Forest are now six points off Doncaster, who occupy the second automatic promotion slot. The Reds do have a game in hand on Rovers and Calderwood tried to remain positive despite the spot-kick frustration. "The consequence is we don't get the three points which I think we deserved," he added. "We still haven't got the win but we take a lot from this, coming to Leeds taking a point and looking like we should have got all three. "I think it's a step forward - everything but the three points."

Tyson faces six weeks out injured
Nottingham Forest striker Nathan Tyson could be out for up to six weeks after injuring his hamstring in the 1-0 victory over Swindon. Tyson, 25, grabbed a fine solo winner but limped off late on and may not return until late March. The striker missed four games over Christmas with the same type of injury. He told SSB: "It's basically on the same scale as last time. It's so annoying and frustrating - it just seems to keep on happening." Manager Colin Calderwood said: "It's disappointing because we need all hands to the pump. "Nathan tends to go on goalscoring runs and we had hoped the goal against Swindon would be the first of many."

Blackpool complete Holt loan deal
Blackpool have completed the loan-signing of Nottingham Forest striker Grant Holt for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old has scored 24 goals in 109 appearances since arriving at the City Ground from Rochdale for £300,000 in January 2006. Blackpool manager Simon Grayson told SSB: "We've enquired about him over the last year. "He's a big strong boy and gives us extra competition for places." Holt has seen his opportunities limited due to the form of fellow-strikers Nathan Tyson, Junior Agogo and recent loan-signing Brett Ormerod. He says it is a chance he could not turn down: "I was getting frustrated where I was and there weren't that many teams where I'd have gone out on loan. "It's great for me location wise and it's a club that I think is on the up." Grayson added: "It's very rare a player gets a loan move up a division and that's the opportunity we've given him. "Grant is a player who is hungry to come and play. He's match-fit because he's been playing in their team but is desperate to get an opportunity to prove himself."

Forest swoop for Coventry keeper
Nottingham Forest have completed the loan signing of Coventry City goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. The 29-year-old former Greek Under-21 international has joined until the end of the season. Konstantopoulos has started 23 matches for the Sky Blues this season but has fallen out of favour under new manager Chris Coleman. Forest boss Colin Calderwood says he is keen to give current number one Paul Smith more competition.

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