Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but Nottingham Forest continue to prove in 2019-20 that there is always an anomaly.
The Reds have become the odd one out.
Said point was proved again in their most recent outing against Queens Park Rangers.
Sabri Lamouchi’s side controlled proceedings for the most part on home soil.
They prodded and probed, but to no avail.
Yes, the wind contributed to one effort being unfortunately ruled out, but there were another 89 minutes in which to force a breakthrough.
Forest drew a blank.
They ended the game having seen 51.66 per cent of the ball.
The 13th time this season that they have edged statistics in the possession stakes.
One win has been taken from those outings – the 3-1 victory over Luton.
In total, eight points have been collected from the 39 on offer.
Points
Original Image: Nottingham Forest/Graphic Design: Beth Davenport
The Reds have 56 to their name from 34 games.
Which means 48 have been picked up when dipping below 50 per cent possession.
They are not the first side to favour a counter-attacking approach.
Luring opponents into a false sense of security and hitting them on the break is an art form in itself.
Forest’s, though, is a record which makes little sense.
And must be a source of frustration for those charged with the task of delivering positive performances and results.
Logic dictates that controlling games should deliver greater reward.
If operating on the foot front, then chances and goals are surely a given – aren’t they?
The Reds are bucking the trend.
Especially in their own backyard.
Of the aforementioned 13 games in which Forest have bossed the ball, nine have been staged at the City Ground.
Record
Cardiff (69.14), Hull City (66.06), Middlesbrough (61.43), Sheffield Wednesday (58.37), Charlton (57.06), Luton (56.16), Reading (55.84), QPR (51.66) and Preston (51.56).
The away games are Wigan (59.09), Huddersfield (57.74), Birmingham (53.92) and Millwall (52.4).
Contests in which the Reds would have expected to take much more from.
Given their ongoing standing inside the top six.
Lamouchi said in the Nottingham Post after witnessing a goalless draw with the Rs: “We defended well, which was good. But offensively, we missed; we missed numbers, we missed the last touch and we missed the last pass.
“It was small details.
“We finish with one point and a big frustration. With two more points, it would change a lot. We missed an opportunity – it was not the first one, but I hope it will be the last one.”
Forest could do with it being the last entry on an unfortunate roll of honour.
Recent history suggests that it won’t be.
Which means a solution needs to be found to a long-standing poser.
Lamouchi and Co have to start taking ownership of those nine-tenths and make them work in their favour.