Nottingham Forest should be heeding the advice of Garry Birtles in an ongoing promotion push, with the Reds told to “play the percentages”.
Doing the simple things well will stand Sabri Lamouchi’s side in good stead.
For the most part, those boxes have been ticked this season.
Forest have been markedly more dogged than in recent times, with success being built from the back.
Seven clean sheets have been collected in Championship competition, with Leeds the only side to boast a better defensive record.
It has, however, been going the other way that questions continue to be asked.
Last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Cardiff was very much a case in point.
With 30-odd shots unleashed, to not hit the back of the net is something of a concern.
Especially as that feat – Birmingham and QPR aside – has been the stick with which to prod Lamouchi this season.
We are, in some ways, being greedy.
Challenge
As supporters, of course we want it all – and we want it now!
Those calling the shots are playing a longer game and have sought to address one area of concern before moving on to another.
Samba and Co have made Forest a tough nut to crack.
Now the challenge is to bring the best out of Lewis Grabban, Joe Lolley, Joao Carvalho et al.
That is easier said than done.
Birtles, though, is among those to suggest that the Reds should avoid over-thinking things.
And he’s right.
The European Cup-winning frontman has told the Nottingham Post: “The players certainly need to play the percentages a little more when it comes to trying to be too clever with crosses.
“Get the ball into the box and let nature take care of itself, don’t be too clever.”
Benefit
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Forest should benefit from getting the basics right.
Putting the ball in the box on a regular basis would represent a step in the right direction.
The law of averages dictates that said approach will deliver end product.
Especially with ‘fox in the box’ Grabban among those sniffing out chances.
Give him something to go after.
And when there is the chance to load the area from free-kicks and corners, don’t fire the delivery in flat.
As Birtles points out, ‘don’t be too clever’.
Put a bit of height on the ball and let Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo or wherever else fancies it go and win it.
Forest have not, as a rule, being carving opponents open for fun this season.
With that in mind, it is important that they maximise any opportunities that do come their way.
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