Nottingham Forest

Momentum is the key - Calderwood
Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood says his team have not given up on the chance of gaining automatic promotion. Calderwood wants his team must win all their remaining games after moving closer to securing a play-off spot after beating Cheltenham on Saturday. "Automatic promotion is not in the forefront of our minds," he said. "But we don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth and if the opportunity were to arise we've got to take maximum points from our remaining five games." Forest came down from 1-0 to beat Cheltenham 3-1 at the City Ground thanks to two goals from Junior Agogo and one from Luke Chambers. After the match, Calderwood said Forest must now find a new consistency to threaten second-placed Carlisle, who are nine points clear of his fourth-placed side. "It's all about gaining momentum," he said. "We've won two in a row and we'll try and make it three out of three for the first time this season on Tuesday." Forest welcome Bristol Rovers to the City Ground on Tuesday before travelling to Tranmere on Saturday

Rushden bring in Andersen on loan
Rushden & Diamonds have signed Reading keeper Mikkel Andersen on a seven-day emergency loan after Nottingham Forest recalled Dale Roberts. The Diamonds were forced to make their move for the 19-year-old, with Martyn Margarson and Paul Nicholls struggling with injury and illness. The Dane could make his Diamonds debut on Tuesday against Stafford Rangers. Andersen played three times for Diamonds' Blue Square rivals Torquay in a recent loan spell.

Earnshaw completes Forest switch
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Derby County striker Robert Earnshaw for a fee of £2.65m. The Welsh international has signed a three-year contract and is boss Colin Calderwood's first summer signing. Earnshaw, 27, struggled to settle in at Pride Park where he scored just one goal in the Premier League as the Rams were relegated to the Championship. "It has taken a few weeks but I'm glad everything is done," he said. " I can't wait for the start of the season." Earnshaw only joined Derby a year ago from Norwich for £3.5m but he made just seven Premier League starts in a dismal campaign. The former Cardiff frontman failed to secure a regular starting place under both former Rams boss Billy Davies and current manager Paul Jewell, and only managed two goals all season. Unsurprisingly he was thrilled to get the chance to make a fresh start. "Derby was disappointing but that's the way it goes," Earnshaw told the club's website. "I'm just looking at is as a chapter closed and will learn from it. "Getting to know Colin Calderwood was important I wanted to know what he was looking for. "We had a good, long chat and that was an important factor in my decision in the end." Forest chairman Nigel Doughty added: "When you look at Robert's record in terms of goals per game he's probably the most successful Championship player. "Allied with the strikeforce we have, I think we will be a potent goalscoring force next season." Meanwhile, Forest have announced their second pre-season friendly against Premier League opposition. They will face Everton at The City Ground on Friday July 25th, just six days before they face Roy Keane's Sunderland.

Forest close in on Anderson loan
Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal to take winger Paul Anderson on a season-long loan from Liverpool. Anderson spent much of last season at League One side Swansea, where he was named their young player of the year. The 19-year-old, who was born in Melton Mowbray, has now decided to return to his native East Midlands after snubbing a return for Swansea to join Forest. The deal should be finalised over the weekend before Anderson links up with his new team-mates on Tuesday. He told Forest's website: "I enjoyed last season at Swansea but after speaking to Forest I just felt it was the right move for me." Swansea were so desperate to borrow Anderson for an extra year the Championship new boys were prepared to pay Premier League giants Liverpool £100,000. So his decision not to return to South Wales will be a huge blow to Swans boss Roberto Martinez.

Veteran Cole wraps up Forest move
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of veteran striker Andrew Cole. The 36-year-old former Newcastle United, Manchester United and England forward has signed a 12-month contract at Championship new boys Forest. Nottingham-born Cole said: "I always said one day I'd play for Forest, so this is a dream come true for me. "It's special as my grandfather, who is no longer with us, was a big Forest fan and always wanted me to play for them. Hopefully he's looking down on me now." Cole, who won 15 England caps, left Sunderland at the end of last season and had a spell on loan at Burnley, scoring six goals in 13 games for the Turf Moor club. He admits he considered retiring after being released by Roy Keane's Sunderland. "I have to admit it's something I considered, but then this chance came along and people kept telling me I still had too much to offer," added Cole. "I wouldn't have come if I thought I didn't have a lot to offer. We've got a young team and I hope I can bring my experience to bear when it is needed. "This isn't about money. I had far more lucrative offers elsewhere but wanted to join Forest and make myself and a lot of other people happy." Cole becomes Forest boss Colin Calderwood's fourth summer signing, following moves for Paul Anderson, Guy Moussi and Rob Earnshaw.

Clough named in Euro Hall of Fame
Nottingham Forest hero Brian Clough has been named in the National Football Museum's European Hall of Fame. Clough, who won the European Cup with Forest in 1979 and 1980, died in 2004. Son Nigel Clough accepted the award at a ceremony in Liverpool on Wednesday and told Radio Nottingham: "He would have been extremely proud. "When you look back it is a staggering achievement and I'm sure a lot of Forest fans at the time thought he was going to go on for years and years." The National Football Museum is located at Preston North End's Deepdale ground and was founded in 2001. The other managers included in its European Hall of Fame are Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Matt Busby and Bob Paisley. Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough added: "In the current climate, you can't see Nottingham Forest getting near to the European Cup never mind winning it two years running. "I think he would have loved to have been here with so many people whom he had an immense amount of respect for in his business." Clough, who also led Derby County to the League Championship, died in September 2004 from stomach cancer at the age of 69.

McGugan to return in reserve game
Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan is expected to make a return for the Reds in a reserve match against Walsall on Tuesday. McGugan has missed Forest's last nine games after picking up a thigh injury in the Swansea match on 16 August. The 19-year-old returned to full training last week and now wants to test his fitness. Midfielder Paul Anderson and striker Joe Garner are also expected to appear in the Central Division reserve tie. Forest face Queen's Park Rangers away on Saturday.

Forest pair fire back in reserves
Nottingham Forest's Paul Anderson and Lewis McGugan both scored in the Reds' 7-1 reserve win over Walsall. The midfielders, who are both recovering from injuries, got vital match action in Tuesday's game. Reserve coach John Pemberton told the club website: "Paul looked sharp and looks like he is chomping at the bit, so we're really pleased with him. "It was Lewis' first game in a long time and he needs to play a bit more but is going in the right direction." Anderson will now wait to see if he is in the Reds side for QPR on Saturday. It is thought McGugan, who came on as a substitute for Anderson, will play another reserve match before being considered for first-team action. The 19-year-old has missed the last nine matches for the Reds due to a thigh injury.

Palace's Fletcher set for Forest
Nottingham Forest have confirmed that they are set to sign midfielder Carl Fletcher from Championship rivals Crystal Palace on a six-week loan. The Welsh international has made five substitute appearances for the Selhurst Park side this season. The Eagles put 28-year-old Fletcher, who has had spells at Watford, West Ham and Bournemouth, on the transfer list in August. Forest face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Forest sign keeper Camp from QPR
Nottingham Forest have signed goalkeeper Lee Camp from QPR. The former Derby player has joined on an initial three-month loan deal and Forest have the option to sign him permanently in January. Camp, 24, has been out of favour at Rangers and was recently told he could leave if another club came in for him. He is the second player Forest have signed on loan in the space of four days, joining Crystal Palace midfielder Carl Fletcher at the City Ground. Forest are five points adrift at the bottom of the Championship and are without a win in nine matches. They lost 2-1 at QPR on Saturday, when Camp was an unused substitute for the home side.

Forest fan chants prompt inquiry
The Football Association is to investigate abusive chants aimed at Cardiff boss Dave Jones during their 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. The Bluebirds boss slammed a 'moron' minority of Forest fans after a torrent of personal abuse at the City Ground. An FA statement confirmed: "We strongly condemn any chanting which contains foul and abusive language or is of a homophobic or discriminatory nature. "At this stage is that we are gathering information on this." The Football Association wrote to Nottingham Forest on Monday to get their version of events and expect a reply within the next seven days. Jones was cleared of child abuse charges in a court case in 2001 when the judge questioned why a case involving such an obviously innocent man was ever brought to court. Jones told BBC Sport: "The game is trying to cut out all abuse, it has got to be stamped out. "But it's only a minority and I'd like to thank the Forest supporters who have sent me letters of support." A lot of abuse from spectators towards managers, and players for that matter, is well over the top and has no place in the game. Football must make a stance against it League Managers Association vice-chairman Frank Clark "We wanted him to know that the vast majority of Forest fans are fair-minded individuals," said Arthur. "And that small minority who took it upon themselves to abuse him are not representative of our support." The FA's new 'Respect' campaign is trying to clean up the game and their strongly-worded statement continued: "Stewards have the powers to eject the offenders. "And police would also have a power of arrest if a criminal offence has been committed and if suitable evidence can be obtained. "Our view is that anyone convicted of such offences should be given football banning orders." League Managers Association vice-chairman Frank Clark, a former Forest manager and player, was at the game and heard the barrage of verbal abuse aimed at Jones. He said: "Football must make a stance against it. "The FA are promoting their Respect campaign and there is some abuse from crowd that is totally unacceptable. "It is only a small minority of the crowd but that doesn't make it any less despicable, there was no cause for it at all and totally beyond the pale. "A lot of abuse from spectators towards managers, and players for that matter, is well over the top and has no place in the game. "As a manager you accept you are going to accept stick from opposing fans, and sometimes your own, but this kind of thing goes far too far." Jones is at pains to stress that it was only a small section of the Forest fans who were verbally abusing him during the game, which Cardiff won 1-0. "I'm not tarring all Forest fans with the same brush, I'm talking about the minority of idiots who were chanting," he said. "People who are chanting probably don't know what they're chanting, they're following the fool that is in front of them. "As one woman said to me once, it's all part of the banter. But that's not banter because I had my children in the crowd and the only people who are being abused are my children in the stands. "They think it gets at me and my team, it doesn't affect me because I am hardened to it. It's not that I'm used to it, I block it out. "But my daughters are in the stand watching the game, it's not a nice thing to hear. "The chants worked against Forest on Saturday because if not more than half of the Forest crowd were so annoyed and disgusted at what the minority were saying - it made for quite an eerie atmosphere. "They're the losers because we've come away with the points and they're being slammed for the abuse. But it seems to be in the game." Clark wants the authorities to stamp out this behaviour. "Education is one way of stopping this happening," he said. "But it is up to stewards, police and clubs to sort it and catch the ringleaders, although I know that is very difficult."

Chambers has faith in his ability
Nottingham Forest defender Luke Chambers wants to prove that he is good enough to play in the Championship. The 23-year-old has faced criticism for some of his performances at right-back but impressed against Birmingham City. Chambers told Radio Nottingham: "I felt I was back to the form that I'm capable of. I know I can play in this league and it's just proving it. "I know I haven't been good enough this season. That showed with me being in and out of the team."

Davies still weighing up options
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies insists he will not be rushed into making moves in the transfer window. "I'm in discussions with potential targets," Davies told Radio Nottingham. "And there's many of them, but I'm nowhere near signing a player. "We do need some additions, of course. But the last thing I want to do is to go and spend money unwisely. "I'm assessing the squad. I'm looking around the club and identifying how we can improve on and off the pitch." Forest have been linked with a number of players since 44-year-old Davies's appointment. "I've had lots of calls from agents," he admits. "But, when I speak to an agent, it seems to mean I'm going to sign his player, and then it ends up in the press." Davies took over at Forest on New Year's Day, since when he has seen his side win in the FA Cup at Manchester City and then in the league last Saturday at Charlton. Davies will be in charge of his first home game as Forest boss this Saturday when Plymouth Argyle are the visitors to the City Ground (17 January, 1500 GMT).

Davies delight at Forest effort
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies has praised the efforts of his young squad after their 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Tuesday night's home victory has seen the Reds move four points clear of the relegation zone. Davies told Radio Nottingham: "I can ask no more of these players. "The one thing they have got and shown is fantastic courage - they and the staff will work very hard to bring success to this club." He added: "This set of fans deserve it with the support they have given us in the second half and the way they got behind the team." However, Davies did say he had hoped for a more positive response in the first half as some of the crowd showed discontent towards the side. "What the fans have got to understand is that these players need their support as much as possible - we can't afford to make them any more nervous than they are because it's a big job we're asking for." The Scotsman said moves were afoot to bring in new players to the City Ground before the end of the transfer window next week. "There's great effort from the board and great effort from the staff to try to add quality to the squad we've got," he continued. "We know what's coming up, we know we've got to match and beat these so-called bigger clubs with bigger squads and bigger names, but we also know this is a club that has been at the very heights of the football world. "It's got an outstanding tradition and it deserves to be back at the top."

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