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Megson ready for Wessex battle
By Matt Pitman
Monday 14th November 2005
NOTTINGHAM Forest boss Gary Megson has paid tribute to Weymouth,
claiming "they are not a butcher, baker, candlestick
maker" side.
Megson, whose League One outfit were held to a 1-1 draw by
the non-League Terras nine days ago in front of a mainly stunned
10,305 crowd at the City Ground, added:
"They are a team of old pros. They are on a good run
and we know what to expect."
Megson, whose Forest side drew 1-1 at Bournemouth in League
One on Saturday, continued:
"It will be a really tough test for us. I'm disappointed
that we have to have a replay because it will be difficult
for us.
"I saw Weymouth beat Basingstoke on Tuesday and they
were comfortable winners and they have just beaten Welling
2-1 at home, so they are 13 matches unbeaten 1 think.
"It is not a game against a lot of part timers. They
have a side filled with ex pros. They have a lot of quality.
So going there will be a tough battle for us.
"Weymouth are not a team with a butcher at right back,
a baker at left back and a candle stick maker in midfield.
They are good players. I know, Matt Bound played for me at
Stockport."
Megson, who will have club captain Gareth Taylor available
after suspension tonight but not new striker Nathan Tyson,
who is cup-tied stressed that he was fully aware why Sky TV
would be at the Wessex Stadium.
He said: "The TV cameras are going to be there, purposely
because they want a cup shock.
"Everyone will want a cup shock, except for people who
support Nottingham Forest and us at the club. We have to make
sure that doesn't happen, although no-one is going to help
us except us."
Reflecting on his side's 1-1 draw against the Terras more
than a week ago, Megson added: "From our point of view,
we were 1-0 up but got caught by a set-piece.
"In the end people stopped wanting the ball. We got
a little bit anxious, especially with the way the game went.
"Now we have to make up for that in the replay."
Forest, whose point at Bournemouth kept them in the League
One play-off hunt, admitted he was not enamoured with the
fact his teain would be staying in a hotel down south in between
the Cherries game and the tussle with Weymouth.
Megson said: "I don't particularly like it because it
gives you a little bit of a holiday mood.
But there is no point traipsing all the way back north for
one day; there is no point.
"We're staying because we have no choice and it is my
job to make sure we don't lose our focus."
Asked if he felt under pressure trying to resurrect the fortunes
of a famous club like Forest, Megson pointedly said: "No,
not at all."
And his after-match demeanour at Dean Court suggested he
was actually relishing tonight's battle at Radipole Lane.
If the first 63 minutes at Bournemouth are anything to go
by; Weymouth should fear the worst.
Forest dictated and should, perhaps, have been 3-0 in front
by half-time.
Nicky Southall stabbed them ahead from close range in the
18th minute before James Perch headed narrowly over with a
free header.
Cherries goalkeeper Gareth Stewart then, somehow, kept out
David Johnston's header.
The game changed on 64 minutes though, when Brian Stock produced
a magical 25-yard chipped equaliser following a quickly taken
right flank corner that caught Forest napping.
Big Steve, Fletcher immediately came on as a substitute and
in the,end Forest were lucky to hang on for a draw, with John
Thompson saving them with an 89th-minute goal line clearance
from James O'Connor.
Forest made two changes to their starting line up against
Weymouth, keeper Paul Gerrard returned from injury in place
of Rune Pedersen, while defender Danny Culip came in for midfielder
Eugen Bopp.
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