We've proved in the past few weeks that we're tough to beat without taking advantage of our opportunities going forward. However, whilst the performance was certainly lacking in the first half, today was all about the goals and our rise up the table.

Looking at the squad shows how far we've come and why we should count ourselves as in contention this season. Everyone in the starting XI had a natural replacement somewhere in the squad. When you include the absent list of Tyson, Moussi and Cohen, we have an impressive set of options available to us.

The starting line up looked full of goals with McCleary and Anderson either side of McKenna and Majewski, providing the service for Earnshaw and Blackstock.

Unfortunately, things didn't really go to plan in the first half. Our midfield looked lightweight and stood off their opponents too much. Against a packed midfield, Majewski showed some moments of class but these were too infrequent and we relied upon a fortunate own goal from Anderson's pull back to get us in front. For the rest of the half, it was pretty forgettable with Blackstock left to battle alone for too many long balls.

The most important change of the afternoon came at half time with McCleary swapping wings with Anderson and onto the right hand side. This allowed him to start combining with Gunter and as a pair they started to bring the best out of each other.

Eventually our extra class going forward proved decisive in our favour. Majewski's expert dipping corner found Morgan to score with a downward header. Majeski again created the third, a pin-point pass reached Earnshaw who finally found the perfect finish into the bottom corner. McGugan's instant control was his first touch and the second was to fire the ball past their keeper from an impossible angle. One late lack of concentration from a corner allowed Doncaster a deserved consolation but that couldn't deflect from our rise to fourth place.

The defence was excellent throughout and left Camp as a spectator. MOTM Wilson was immaculate and continues to dominate opposition centre forwards. Morgan alongside was also in impressive form and thoroughly deserved his goal after a couple of outstanding defensive blocks. Doncaster couldn't cope with the movement of Gunter down the right whilst debutant Shorey looked like he'd been at the club for ages with a composed defensive display.

Majewski struggled with the physical aspect of the midfield battle but showed his quality when it mattered. McKenna's passing wasn't the best but he more than made up for this with all the other impressive aspects of his game. Anderon and McCleary struggled in the first half but looked much better with their direct running after the switch during half time.

Blackstock showed some nice touches but too often was left to battle for flick-ons without getting the best from him. Still a useful run out as he returns form injury. Earnshaw had a frustrating afternoonin front of goal but showed class where it mattered for the third.

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Tags: Games Won, MOTM Kelvin Wilson

Despite conceeding the late equaliser, there's plenty to be positive about at the moment. We enter the international break in 8th place, with the play-offs within touching distance - this remains a very positive start to the season. The general lack of goals remains a slight concern, we've only scored 2+ goals twice in the last 12 games, but with the striker injuries clearing, we'll be in much better shape after the break.

For long spells, this game failed to live up to the dramatic events of last season with Forest and an unadventerous City side cancelling each other out. For the first half, we lacked ideas going forward with McGoldrick and Garner failing to take advantage of injuries to Blackstock and Tyson.

We looked very one sided with any reasonable attacks originating through Anderson and Cohen down the left with Garner badly lacking down the other side. Things improved in the closing stages with Garner moved into the middle, finally we had someone capable of holding the ball up and giving their defence something to worry about. City's intention was to defend and take turns to commit endless fouls without sufficient protection from the officials.

Unfortunately, we reverted back to the original formation after the break and things went back to normal. It took the introduction of McCleary on the hour to liven up proceedings and provide the pace and movement that had been badly lacking earlier. Time and again, City couldn't deal with his pairing with Gunter down the right. One run and pull back from the bye-line should have resulted in an easy tap-in for Anderson but their defender came from nowhere to clear off the line.

Davies got the substitutions spot-on again and they provided the basis for a second half improvement. Playing only one up front for an hour, enabled us to contain the opposition and then really go for them in the closing stages and it nearly paid off for us.

As full time approached, a goal-less draw still remained the most likely when we scored following a left wing free kick. Cohen's ball bounced around the area until Morgan caught it with a sweet right foot effort into the top corner. Earnshaw had also joined the fun and should have done better with a couple of late efforts as City had to stop kicking us and finally had to push forward.

As we entered injury time, it looked as though we might just squeeze out another narrow win but paid the penalty for sitting back too deep. We gave City the freedom of midfield, failed to win a header from the resulting cross and left their forward free to nick the ball past Camp. A disappointing end but still plenty to be positive about.

Morgan and MOTM Wilson formed an impressive barrier in defensive with the latter continuing to find the form he displayed upon originally joining the club. At first, the decision to drop Chambers looked a bit harsh but Wilson fully deserves his place in the centre of defence. He cruised through this game despite the obvious attacking threat that City possess. Morgan had another entertaining afternoon, solid at the back, finding the time to score his first of the season and even getting booked for diving.

Gunter provide very useful pace and energy down especially with Garner providing very little support. City struggled to keep up with him and McCleary. Cohen on the other side continues to look more like a natural left back especially when in posession.

Garner really shouldn't be playing down the right hand side for home games as he doesn't provide enough in a creative sense. To his credit, he did make a difference when he got a chance in the middle. In contrast, Anderson looked very dangerous and just lacked enough of the ball when we needed him in early stages of the second half. McCleary has done enough recently to warrant a starting place and it would be nice to see him get a chance in the next home game.

McGoldrick still hasn't been convincing this season and there's a lot more to come from him. With Blackstock hopefully back soon, we'll hopefully see a greater physical presence and retain the ball long enough to bring Majewski into the game.

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Tags: MOTM Kelvin Wilson, Games Drawn

For anyone who watched the draw with Cardiff, the progress we’ve made this season under Billy Davies is becoming very apparent. Too often in the past we’ve travelled back from Wales after a depressing one-sided defeat but on this occasion we fought as a side for the whole game and thoroughly deserved at least a point.
 
Considering the attacking talent currently injured (Blackstock, Earnshaw, Tyson all out), it was another impressive away performance and keeps us nicely in contention. There’s still plenty to work on in terms of final balls and concentration at the back but the improvement since last season is impressive. We continue to look very organised and tough to break down. The change in formation to 451 to accommodate Moussi alongside McKenna with Majewski getting forward seems to suit us very well when up against top opposition.
 
We started the game very brightly and should have been awarded a penalty when Anderson was tripped from behind. Anderson was a threat throughout and caused numerous problems down the left, the only problem was getting the ball to him often enough. Majewski and McGoldrick also looking prominent Cardiff struggled to cope with our passing through midfield as we looked easily the better side but too often we lacked composure in the final third and wasted the chance.
 
Anderson hit one narrowly wide when it was easier to score, Majewski’s free kick wasn’t too far wide and McGoldrick also should have done better with a couple of attempts. Garner won most things in the air but wasn’t really on the same wavelength as the others.
 
The hosts came back into the game using their direct approach to good effect. They didn’t enjoy the same amount of possession as us but caused us a few problems getting the ball forward quickly. MOTM Camp made a number of outstanding saves to keep us level especially one double save as Cardiff ran at the heart of our defence.
 
Despite one of two lapses in concentration, Morgan and Wilson did a great job of keeping their danger men quiet whilst Cohen continues to look much more assured at left back. Due to the form of our midfield, he might be struggling to get into the side elsewhere.
 
We were still re-organising from Majewski getting taken off when they enjoyed the benefit of another crucial decision again us - a borderline offside call. We got caught out and look disjointed at that moment and they took full advantage. This set-back didn’t stop us attacking and the game continued in the same pattern.
 
McGoldrick and Wilson should both have done better with chances in the closing stages as Cardiff sat back and let us dominate in midfield. McCleary had joined the action by this time and started to cause more problems running into space.
 
Cardiff sat back and thought they’d cruise through the closing stages and we made them pay for it. McGugan took advantage of some lucky deflections to hit a sweet left foot half volley past the keeper.

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Tags: MOTM Lee Camp, Games Drawn