# 2004–05 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

During the 2004–05 English football season, Nottingham Forest competed in the Football League Championship.

## Season summary

Manager Joe Kinnear was hoping to push for promotion from the newly named Coca-Cola Championship in 2004–05, but the start to the season was poor. Despite a promising draw with Wigan on the first day of the season (the game which started a run of four consecutive draws), the team's form and league position went downhill. With fans becoming restless, and the threat of demonstrations against the team management, Kinnear resigned in December after a 3–0 defeat to arch-rivals Derby County at Pride Park left Forest struggling at the foot of the Championship. Following Mick Harford's brief reign as caretaker, in January 2005, Gary Megson was named as Nottingham Forest's new manager. He had previously won promotion to the Premiership twice with West Bromwich Albion, having taken over at a time when they were on the verge of relegation to League One, and it was hoped that he could achieve the same success with Forest. After a loss to Millwall in Megson's first match in charge, a six-game unbeaten run gave the fans hope that survival might be on the cards. However, Forest would win only one more league game all season after that, and they finished second from bottom in the Coca-Cola Championship and were relegated to League One. This made them the first former European Cup winners to suffer relegation to the third tier of their domestic league.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 20 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 40 | 65 | −25 | 51 | |
| 21 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 66 | 86 | −20 | 50 | |
| 22 | Gillingham (R) | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 66 | −21 | 50 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Nottingham Forest (R) | 46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 42 | 66 | −24 | 44 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 5 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 69 | −34 | 29 | Relegation to Football League One |

## Results

Nottingham Forest's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Championship

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 7 August 2004 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | 12,035 | Taylor |
| 11 August 2004 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | 21,125 | Evans |
| 14 August 2004 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–2 | 24,201 | Taylor, King |
| 21 August 2004 | Leeds United | A | 1–1 | 31,808 | Reid |
| 28 August 2004 | Coventry City | H | 1–4 | 23,041 | Johnson |
| 30 August 2004 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–3 | 17,538 | Jess (2) |
| 11 September 2004 | Cardiff City | H | 0–0 | 21,607 | |
| 14 September 2004 | Sunderland | A | 0–2 | 23,540 | |
| 18 September 2004 | Stoke City | A | 0–0 | 21,115 | |
| 26 September 2004 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | 25,615 | Evans, King |
| 29 September 2004 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–1 | 20,109 | |
| 3 October 2004 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 11,233 | |
| 15 October 2004 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | 21,865 | Reid |
| 19 October 2004 | Sheffield United | A | 1–1 | 19,445 | Johnson |
| 23 October 2004 | Preston North End | A | 2–3 | 12,439 | King (2) |
| 30 October 2004 | Watford | H | 1–2 | 24,473 | Reid |
| 3 November 2004 | Rotherham United | H | 2–2 | 21,619 | Johnson, King (pen) |
| 6 November 2004 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 27,605 | Johnson |
| 13 November 2004 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 11,622 | |
| 20 November 2004 | Reading | H | 1–0 | 21,138 | Taylor |
| 27 November 2004 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 8,784 | Taylor |
| 4 December 2004 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | 26,099 | Reid, Lester |
| 11 December 2004 | Derby County | A | 0–3 | 30,793 | |
| 17 December 2004 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 21,415 | Dawson |
| 26 December 2004 | West Ham United | A | 2–3 | 32,270 | Johnson (2) |
| 28 December 2004 | Sunderland | H | 1–2 | 27,457 | Reid |
| 1 January 2005 | Stoke City | H | 1–0 | 22,051 | Bopp |
| 3 January 2005 | Cardiff City | A | 0–3 | 15,545 | |
| 15 January 2005 | Millwall | H | 1–2 | 25,949 | Commons |
| 22 January 2005 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–0 | 6,704 | |
| 5 February 2005 | Rotherham United | A | 0–0 | 8,448 | |
| 23 February 2005 | Preston North End | H | 2–0 | 19,209 | Evans, Commons |
| 26 February 2005 | Derby County | H | 2–2 | 26,160 | Evans (pen), Taylor |
| 5 March 2005 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | 27,277 | Taylor |
| 8 March 2005 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 12,118 | Commons (2) |
| 12 March 2005 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–6 | 25,765 | |
| 16 March 2005 | Leeds United | H | 0–0 | 27,101 | |
| 19 March 2005 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 24,008 | Taylor |
| 2 April 2005 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–1 | 8,458 | Dobie |
| 6 April 2005 | Coventry City | A | 0–2 | 22,221 | |
| 9 April 2005 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–3 | 28,887 | |
| 12 April 2005 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | 21,903 | Commons |
| 16 April 2005 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 17,905 | |
| 23 April 2005 | Burnley | H | 1–0 | 24,165 | Commons |
| 30 April 2005 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–2 | 17,834 | Bopp |
| 8 May 2005 | Gillingham | H | 2–2 | 24,800 | Morgan, Bopp |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 8 January 2005 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 3–0 | 11,140 | Reid, Commons, Folly |
| R4 | 29 January 2005 | Peterborough United | H | 1–0 | 16,774 | King |
| R5 | 12 February 2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 35,640 | Taylor |
| R5R | 2 March 2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–3 | 28,062 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 25 August 2004 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–0 | 7,344 | Taylor, King |
| R2 | 22 September 2004 | Rotherham United | H | 2–1 | 11,168 | Taylor (2) |
| R3 | 26 October 2004 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–0 | 9,261 | King, Perch |
| R4 | 10 November 2004 | Fulham | H | 2–4 | 9,252 | King, Reid |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | IRL | Colin Doyle (on loan from Birmingham City) |
| 2 | DF | FRA | Matthieu Louis-Jean |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Rogers |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Wes Morgan |
| 5 | MF | JAM | Darryl Powell |
| 6 | DF | IRL | John Thompson |
| 7 | MF | FRA | David Friio |
| 8 | MF | WAL | Paul Evans |
| 9 | FW | JAM | David Johnson |
| 10 | FW | WAL | Gareth Taylor |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marlon King |
| 12 | GK | IRL | Barry Roche |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Eoin Jess |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Andy Impey |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Chris Doig |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Kris Commons |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Kevin James |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Jack Lester |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Craig Westcarr |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | DF | ENG | John Curtis |
| 22 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard |
| 23 | MF | GER | Eugen Bopp |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gregor Robertson |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Ross Gardner |
| 27 | MF | ENG | James Beaumont |
| 28 | DF | ENG | James Perch |
| 29 | DF | NOR | Jon Olav Hjelde |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Des Walker |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Ian Deakin |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Adam Nowland |
| 33 | FW | ENG | Neil Harris |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Scott Dobie |
| 35 | DF | ENG | Justyn Roberts |
| 36 | DF | WAL | Andy Melville (on loan from West Ham United) |
| 37 | DF | FRA | Vincent Fernandez |
| 38 | MF | ENG | Gavin Hurren |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Matthew Glass |
| 40 | GK | ENG | John Lukic |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Darren Ward (to Norwich City) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Michael Dawson (to Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Andy Reid (to Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Brian Cash (to Bristol Rovers) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | DF | AUS | David Tarka (to Perth Glory FC) |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Shaun Derry (on loan from Crystal Palace) |
| 35 | MF | TOG | Yoann Folly (on loan from Southampton) |

## Appearances

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | Carling Cup | Carling Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Darren Ward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | EIR | Colin Doyle | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | FRA | Matthieu Louis-Jean | 29 | 0 | 22+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Rogers | 39 | 0 | 32+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Wes Morgan | 51 | 1 | 42+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Michael Dawson | 17 | 1 | 13+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | JAM | Darryl Powell | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | EIR | John Thompson | 24 | 0 | 14+6 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | EIR | Andy Reid | 28 | 7 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | FRA | David Friio | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Paul Evans | 45 | 4 | 34+5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | David Johnson | 36 | 6 | 24+7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Gareth Taylor | 43 | 11 | 33+3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2+1 | 3 |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marlon King | 31 | 9 | 17+9 | 5 | 1+1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | GK | EIR | Barry Roche | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Eoin Jess | 24 | 2 | 16+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Andy Impey | 23 | 0 | 18+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | SCO | Chris Doig | 26 | 0 | 20+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Kris Commons | 36 | 7 | 19+11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Kevin James | 7 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | EIR | Brian Cash | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Jack Lester | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Craig Westcarr | 1 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | AUS | David Tarka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | ENG | John Curtis | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard | 49 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | GER | Eugen Bopp | 20 | 3 | 6+12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | SCO | Gregor Robertson | 24 | 0 | 13+7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | James Biggins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Ross Gardner | 14 | 0 | 9+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | James Beaumont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | James Perch | 28 | 1 | 17+5 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 29 | DF | NOR | Jon Olav Hjelde | 15 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Des Walker | 1 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Ian Deakin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Adam Nowland | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | ENG | Neil Harris | 14 | 0 | 5+8 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Shaun Derry | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Scott Dobie | 12 | 1 | 11+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Yoann Folly | 2 | 1 | +1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | ENG | Justyn Roberts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | WAL | Andy Melville | 15 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | FRA | Vincent Fernandez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | ENG | Gavin Hurren | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Matthew Glass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | ENG | John Lukic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |