# 2007–08 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was Nottingham Forest's third consecutive season in League One. The season was regarded a success with the team gaining promotion back to the Championship at the third attempt.
Forest's players were also successful on an individual level in the 2007–08 season, with Julian Bennett and Kris Commons in the PFA League One Team of the Year, while Paul Smith ended the season with 24 clean sheets in 46 games, the record for the league in that season. This achievement was recognised when he received the Puma Golden Glove award.

## Team kit

Supplier: Umbro Sponsor(s): Capital One
| Home | Away | Third |
Source: Wikipedia Nottingham Forest Article

## Season overview

In the 2007–08 campaign, Forest were named title favourites for the third consecutive year. Calderwood signed five players in summer 2007, most notably former Celtic captain Neil Lennon on a free transfer. Also captured were left-back Matt Lockwood from Leyton Orient, Preston North End defender Kelvin Wilson and Yeovil Town duo midfielder Chris Cohen and attacking winger Arron Davies all signing for undisclosed fees.
Forest started the 2007–08 campaign by failing to win in their first six competitive games. The Reds drew three times and lost 2–1 at home to rivals Leeds United, as well as losing 3–2 to Peterborough United in the Football League Trophy. However, Forest then hit an eight-game unbeaten run in the league (including five wins), scoring seventeen goals in the process. After losing to Luton, Forest went on another unbeaten run, this time of six games in all competitions. This briefly took Forest to the top of the league table over Christmas, the first time they had been top all season.
But they lost top spot as they failed to win away from home, in a run lasting seven games. After moving back into second place, Forest's away form once again was found lacking, which allowed Carlisle and Doncaster to overtake them into second and third place, respectively. Forest went on to collect just one win in seven games.
However, they turned their form around, and after being 11 points behind second-place at one point. A win Carlisle saw Forest then win six out of their last seven games of the season. Forest, who had only been in the automatic promotion places once all season got promoted to the Championship on a dramatic last day of the season, by beating Yeovil 3–2 at the City Ground to secure second place. The Reds kept a league record of 24 clean sheets out of 46 games, which helped them end their three-year spell in the league's third tier and gain their first promotion in ten years.

## Pre-season and friendlies
### Results

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 17 July 2007 | Ilkeston Town | A | 5–0 | Thornhill (2) 48', 58', Sinclair 79', Brown (2) 83', 89' | 1,180 |
| 18 July 2007 | Rushden & Diamonds | A | 1–1 | Davies 90' | 1,210 |
| 21 July 2007 | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 | | 2,796 |
| 24 July 2007 | Kilmarnock | A | 3–1 | Holt (3) 19' (pen.), 39' (pen.), 51' (pen.) | 2,524 |
| 26 July 2007 | Dunfermline Athletic | A | 1–2 | Sinclair 24' | 1,756 |
| 28 July 2007 | Motherwell | A | 0–0 | | 2,505 |
| 30 July 2007 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | Chambers (2) 4', 85' | 7,070 |
| 31 July 2007 | Derby County | A | 0–2 | | 25,159 |
| 4 August 2007 | Sheffield United | A | 0–1 | | 5,676 |

## League One
### Results

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| 11 August 2007 | Bournemouth | H | 0–0 | | 18,791 | 16th |
| 18 August 2007 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | | 17,220 | 15th |
| 25 August 2007 | Leeds United | H | 1–2 | Commons 50' | 25,237 | 18th |
| 1 September 2007 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–2 | Anthony (og) 29', Holt 45+1' | 9,080 | 18th |
| 15 September 2007 | Port Vale | A | 2–0 | Edwards (og) 3', Chambers 86' | 6,521 | 14th |
| 22 September 2007 | Gillingham | H | 4–0 | Agogo (3) 43', 61', 73', Sinclair 84' | 16,330 | 10th |
| 29 September 2007 | Yeovil Town | A | 3–0 | Chambers 57', Agogo 79', Commons 84' | 6,818 | 8th |
| 2 October 2007 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | Commons 75' | 10,994 | 8th |
| 6 October 2007 | Hartlepool United | H | 2–1 | Commons 11', Agogo 83' | 17,520 | 5th |
| 13 October 2007 | Cheltenham Town | A | 3–0 | Commons (3) 11', 45+1', 66' | 5,012 | 3rd |
| 20 October 2007 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 0–0 | | 23,108 | 4th |
| 27 October 2007 | Luton Town | A | 1–2 | Bennett 90+1' | 8,524 | 7th |
| 30 October 2007 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–0 | | 16,423 | 6th |
| 3 November 2007 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 2–0 | Agogo 50'(pen), Tyson 78' | 16,825 | 4th |
| 6 November 2007 | Southend United | H | 4–1 | Breckin 41', Tyson 65', Agogo (2) 73', 88' | 26,094 | 2nd |
| 24 November 2007 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | Davies 45', Clingan 52' | 16,650 | 2nd |
| 4 December 2007 | Walsall | A | 0–1 | | 6,605 | 4th |
| 7 December 2007 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–0 | Tyson (2) 30', 49' | 6,536 | 2nd |
| 15 December 2007 | Northampton Town | H | 2–2 | McGugan 15', Agogo 90' | 17,081 | 3rd |
| 22 December 2007 | Port Vale | H | 2–0 | Agogo 24', McGugan 67' | 21,407 | 1st |
| 26 December 2007 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–0 | | 8,140 | 2nd |
| 29 December 2007 | Gillingham | A | 0–3 | | 7,712 | 2nd |
| 1 January 2008 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–1 | Cohen 68', McGugan 90+2' | 18,762 | 2nd |
| 12 January 2008 | Leyton Orient | H | 4–0 | Holt (2) 31', 54'(pen), Commons 72', Thornhill 89' | 17,805 | 2nd |
| 19 January 2008 | Swindon Town | A | 1–2 | Chambers 63' | 9,815 | 3rd |
| 23 January 2008 | Millwall | A | 2–2 | Cohen 85', Tyson 88' | 8,436 | 2nd |
| 29 January 2008 | Swansea city | H | 0–0 | | 21,065 | 3rd |
| 2 February 2008 | Bournemouth | A | 0–2 | | 7,251 | 4th |
| 9 February 2008 | Millwall | H | 2–0 | Bennett 48', Chambers 58' | 17,046 | 3rd |
| 12 February 2008 | Leeds United | A | 1–1 | Bennett 69' | 29,552 | 4th |
| 16 February 2008 | Swindon Town | H | 1–0 | Tyson 50' | 23,439 | 3rd |
| 23 February 2008 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 | Agogo 61' | 7,136 | 2nd |
| 3 March 2008 | Carlisle United | H | 0–1 | | 28,487 | 4th |
| 8 March 2008 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–0 | | 6,341 | 4th |
| 11 March 2008 | Southend United | A | 1–1 | Thornhill 65' | 8,376 | 4th |
| 15 March 2008 | Walsall | H | 1–1 | Ormerod 49' | 17,177 | 4th |
| 21 March 2008 | Northampton Town | A | 2–1 | Ormerod 9', Tyson 63'(pen) | 7,244 | 4th |
| 24 March 2008 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–0 | | 18,165 | 4th |
| 28 March 2008 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–1 | | 12,508 | 4th |
| 1 April 2008 | Carlisle United | A | 2–0 | Chambers 76', McCleary 90+3' | 9,979 | 4th |
| 5 April 2008 | Cheltenham Town | H | 3–1 | Agogo (2) 26', 47', Chambers 45' | 19,860 | 4th |
| 8 April 2008 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–1 | McGugan 33' | 15,860 | 5th |
| 12 April 2008 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–0 | Tyson 34', Morgan 51' | 8,689 | 4th |
| 19 April 2008 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | Tyson 67' | 17,331 | 4th |
| 26 April 2008 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–0 | McGugan 84' | 5,206 | 3rd |
| 3 May 2008 | Yeovil Town | H | 3–2 | Bennett 12', Commons 18', McGugan 28' | 28,520 | 2nd |

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Swansea City (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 82 | 42 | +40 | 92 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest (P) | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 64 | 32 | +32 | 82 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 3 | Doncaster Rovers (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 80 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 4 | Carlisle United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 80 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 5 | Leeds United | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 76 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the Football League Championship.
* ↑ Leeds deducted 15 points for failure to comply with rules on insolvency.

## FA Cup
### Results

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 10 November 2007 | Round 1 | Lincoln City | A | 1–1 | McGugan 25' | 7,361 |
| 27 November 2007 | Round 1 replay | Lincoln City | H | 3–1 | Commons 35', Tyson (2) 49', 61' | 6,783 |
| 11 December 2007 | Round 2 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | | 5,758 |

## League Cup
### Results

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 14 August 2007 | Round 1 | Chester City | A | 0–0 (4–2p) | | 2,720 |
| 28 August 2007 | Round 2 | Leicester City | H | | Match abandoned at half time | 15,638 |
| 18 September 2007 | Round 2 | Leicester City | H | 2–3 | Smith 1', Tyson 64' | 15,519 |

## Football League Trophy
### Results

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 4 September 2007 | Round 1 | Peterborough United | H | 2–3 | Chambers (2) 33', 49' | 3,102 |

## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

The statistics for the following players are for their time during 2007–08 season playing for Nottingham Forest. Any stats from a different club during 2007–08 are not included.
* Grant Holt's red card was for two yellow cards
* Nottingham Forest also had two own goals scored for them during 2007–08
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Paul Smith | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Kelvin Wilson (vc) | 40 (2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 (2) | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | Matt Lockwood | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Luke Chambers | 40 (2) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46 (2) | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Wes Morgan | 37 (5) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 (5) | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Ian Breckin (c) | 22 (6) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 (6) | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | James Perch | 19 (11) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 (13) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | Kris Commons | 29 (10) | 9 | 2 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 (11) | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Nathan Tyson | 26 (8) | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 31 (8) | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Grant Holt | 22 (10) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 (11) | 3 | 5 | 1* |
| 11 | FW | Scott Dobie | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Will Hoskins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Garath McCleary | 3 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | Felix Bastians | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Arron Davies | 9 (10) | 1 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (12) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Chris Cohen | 40 (1) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 (1) | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Sammy Clingan | 40 (2) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 (2) | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 17 | MF | Lewis McGugan | 25 (8) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 (8) | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Neil Lennon | 15 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 18 (4) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | ST | Brett Ormerod | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | Dimitrios Konstantopoulos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | Junior Agogo | 27 (8) | 13 | 1 (2) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 (11) | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Emile Sinclair | 0 (12) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (14) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | Alan Power | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Matt Thornhill | 5 (9) | 2 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (11) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | Brendan Moloney | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | Joe Heath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | Julian Bennett | 33 (1) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 (1) | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | Dale Roberts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | Mark Byrne | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | Shane Redmond | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | James Reid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | GK | Barry Richardson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | DF | Hamza Bencherif | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 12 June 2007 | MF | Neil Lennon | Celtic | Free |
| 5 July 2007 | DF | Matt Lockwood | Leyton Orient | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 2007 | MF | Arron Davies | Yeovil Town | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 2007 | MF | Chris Cohen | Yeovil Town | Undisclosed |
| 16 July 2007 | DF | Kelvin Wilson | Preston North End | £300k |
| 22 January 2008 | MF | Garath McCleary | Bromley | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 23 January 2008 | FW | Scott Dobie | Carlisle United | Nominal |
| 30 January 2008 | FW | David Brown | Bradford City | Free |
| 31 January 2008 | MF | Neil Lennon | Wycombe Wanderers | Free |

### Loan In

| Date From | Date Until | Pos. | Name | From |
| 8 February 2008 | 13 April 2008 | FW | Will Hoskins | Watford |
| 7 March 2008 | 4 May 2008 | FW | Brett Ormerod | Preston North End |
| 25 March 2008 | 4 May 2008 | GK | Dimitrios Konstantopoulos | Coventry City |

### Loan Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To |
| 5 July 2007 | GK | Paddy Gamble | Stalybridge Celtic |
| 1 October 2007 | DF | Hamza Bencherif | Lincoln City |
| 1 October 2007 | MF | Felix Bastians | Chesterfield |
| 22 November 2007 | FW | Emile Sinclair | Brentford |
| 22 November 2007 | DF | Tom Sharpe | Bury |
| 22 November 2007 | MF | Alan Power | Grays Athletic |
| 4 January 2008 | MF | Felix Bastians | Notts County |
| 10 January 2008 | DF | Brendan Moloney | Chesterfield |
| 11 January 2008 | DF | Tom Sharpe | Halifax Town |
| 23 January 2008 | GK | Dale Roberts | Rushden and Diamonds |
| 14 February 2008 | MF | Felix Bastians | Milton Keynes Dons |
| 20 March 2008 | FW | Grant Holt | Blackpool |