17 Apr 2026 10:08:32
Well, comrades, I got half my pre match post wishes I guess! No extra time but 3 injuries to key players. Not sure what happened to CHO and Murillo. The former just sat down whilst they were on the attack whilst Murillo (who for all his talents is a bit of a drama queen when it comes to injuries) appeared to have only one leg working! I didn’t understand why we didn’t put the ball out but played on for a couple of minutes with 9?
Felt sorry for Woody. My daughter, who is a physio, says hopefully it’s just bruising to the bone and he will be back in a couple of weeks or so. I can’t remember if it was the same leg that he’s been out injured with that was affected?
VAR at least did its job in correcting the refs blooper in not issuing a straight red initially.
To say we made heavy weather of it is an understatement…. I thought even with Woody off against 10 men and one nil up it would be a procession and an easier evening for my pacemaker but by the end we were very lucky.

The number of chances we had reminded me of the Wolves game. Forest never make it easy for we long suffering fans do they? Needed a calming influence from the captain and senior pros but it was not forthcoming. I could see VP trying to do it from the sideline without any effect whatsoever on the players. It was harem scarem and ill disciplined second half, especially towards the end. The crowd went very very quiet indeed.
On the bright side, we are through to the semis and the tribute to Ando and his Mum was pure class and shows great team spirit and togetherness.
By the way, the BBC are already discussing the difficulties of playing Champions League football from the Championship! Fixture congestion would be unprecedented apparently. But it won’t come to that imo
Coyr!

1.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 10:27:07
You're right, Stokey, it won't because we won't beat Villa.

2.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 11:10:25
Fred, I thought it was a bit premature of the BBC too mate....

3.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 12:48:55
Not likely, but a possibility.
Does anyone know if it's happened before? Has any team, anywhere, played in the Champions League while not in their top division?

4.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 14:04:42
I agree completely with the sentiment re Ando's mother. It is likely she was quite ill for a period before this. It is possibly an explanation for comments on this site, that his mind was elsewhere, which affected his play.
We all have our own stories to tell, and footballers are just the same, ie have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, children.

Difficulties with any of them could affect our job and enthusiasm for it, as it brings the reality of life and its fragility.

5.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 17:15:01
Gazzi,
I think no team has competed in the Champions League from a lower division, mate.
However, Millwall, Wigan, Birmingham and Ipswich have competed in Europe in other competitions, having been relegated, i.e. Europa, etc.
I don't know about other European teams?

{Ed001's Note - were Millwall relegated or did they just reach the FA Cup final while in the Championship? Isn't that why the qualification rules were changed to stop that happening unless they won the cup, otherwise it went to the next place down in the Prem.}

6.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 18:03:53
I was thinking on sheff wed ED001 couldn't remember though.

{Ed001's Note - I don't remember them being in Europe in the Championship, but my memory is not that great these days.}

7.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 18:44:24
Only sides to play in European competition from the Championship/Old Division 2 are:
Birmingham (2011-12) UEFA Cup.
Wigan (2013-14) Europa League.
Millwall (2004-05) UEFA Cup.
West Ham (1980-81) Cup Winners' Cup.
Ipswich (2002-03) UEFA Cup via Fair Play league.
?

8.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 19:57:18
Good shout, RHR. I forgot about West Ham mate.

9.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 20:07:05
Unfortunately, Stokey, I cheated lol. I used Google AI. Honestly, I never knew about West Ham or Ipswich. ?

{Ed001's Note - was Ipswich in the George Burley era?}

10.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 22:04:30
I am a bit of geeky nerd, RHR, as regards football, mate. Sad really. ???

11.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 00:26:24
Stokey, you don't say!!!!

12.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 01:00:36
Hey Ed001, i just had a look, yeah Burley started the season but was one of three that along with Mowbray and Royal, who by looking at the dates all had a crack at the Ufea Cup games. They actually didn't do to bad eventually going out to Slovan Liberec. ?

{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}

13.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 15:23:33
Gazzi. ????