Once again Nottingham Forest have been handed the tag of favourites to win League One, but Colin Calderwood’s side have started the campaign in unspectacular fashion, with three goalless draws in their first three matches. Forest have now failed to find the net in 300 minutes of football, with Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Swansea preceded by similar stalemates against Bournemouth and Chester. With the strikers not quite firing on all cylinders in the first few games, Calderwood is fortunate that goalkeeper Paul Smith has been in such impressive form for his side. Givemefootball’s Mark Shail logged the thoughts of Smith after his man-of-the-match display against the Swans at the weekend…
Q:ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE GOALS ARE NOT GOING IN FOR THE SIDE AT THE MOMENT?
A:In training the goals are going in left, right and centre so it’s just a case of being patient and trying to transfer it onto the pitch. We have got enough, the forwards at the club are strong and we’ve still got Nathan Tyson to come back.
Q:I SUPPOSE IT’S NOT IDEAL THAT JUNIOR AGOGO AND GRANT HOLT ARE RECOVERING FROM INJURIES THEMSELVES?
A:Grant and Junior have had their injury problems but they will get back into the swing of things and start playing well together. They are improving all the time. In training we look really sharp. We work really hard in our crossing and shooting sessions. It’s just a case of keeping that going from Monday to Friday and hoping that the work benefits us on a match day.
Q:SO YOU THINK IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THINGS START TO CLICK IN FRONT OF GOAL?
A:There is no reason to panic, the clean sheets are there for us to build on. If you do not concede goals, you cannot lose matches. We have had a couple of draws and we want to turn those into victories. But it is a positive that we are not letting goals in and I’m sure it won’t be long before they start going in at the other end.
Q:WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE DRAW AT SWANSEA?
A:We went there looking for three points so we were a bit disappointed in the dressing room. But we had to battle and defend really well to get that point because they are a quality side. Given the way the game went we are happy with a draw and, from a personal point of view, the goalkeepers and defenders are always going to be happy to keep another clean sheet. That’s three in a row and we’ve been working hard on our defending in training. It shows that the work does pay off.
Q:HOW HAVE DEFENDERS MATT LOCKWOOD AND KELVIN WILSON SETTLED IN AT THE CLUB AFTER ARRIVING IN THE SUMMER?
A:I have been really impressed with the boys that have come in at the back. Kelvin has settled in well, he is a quality player. He has come into the first team and done really well. He is one of the reasons why we are keeping clean sheets – he puts his body on the line – he cleared one off the line on Saturday and has been getting in tackles when we need them.
Q:AND YOU MUST BE DELIGHTED WITH YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION SO FAR?
A:As a keeper all I can do is try to make saves when called upon and try to keep clean sheets. I have happily been able to do that in the last three games and we are just waiting for those three points now. We have got more than enough in the squad to achieve that.
