The club has had seen some legendary free-kick goals stapled in the history books forever, but how do these compare?
Nottingham Forest’s Andy Reid celebrates at the end of the match
John Robertson, Stuart Pearce, Johnny Metgod, Ian Woan, Pierre van Hooijdonk…Nottingham Forest have had some superb free-kick takers down the years, giving many a fan lasting memories.
This decade, Forest have scored some bewildering free-kicks that have rivalled some of the classic strikes in the past – here are five of them.
Lewis McGugan vs Ipswich Town – 23/8/10
Arguably the best free-kick in the club’s history, which is some honour given the importance of certain strikes in the past, McGugan defied physics with this absolute thunderbolt in 2010. At least 35 yards from goal, McGugan runs up to the ball and hits it with so much power you barely see the ball move in the air, eventually swerving and flying into the top corner of the net. If Cristiano Ronaldo hit this free-kick, it would be seen as the best of all time.
Lewis McGugan scores Nottingham Forest’s second goal from the penalty spot
Lewis McGugan vs Notts County – 9/8/11
In reality, this could easily be a best of compilation of Lewis McGugan free-kicks for Forest, such was his unerring accuracy from them in a red shirt, but this one was something special. The League Cup had paired the two Nottingham sides together – Forest and County – and it was a spectacular game, eventually finishing 3-3 in normal time before Forest won on penalties. McGugan scored one of the three Forest goals, and it was a sizzling free-kick about 25 yards from goal, which McGugan powered in off the crossbar.
Andy Reid vs Cardiff City – 20/10/12
Reid will go down as a club icon at Forest, and with goals like this, it’s little wonder why. The former Republic of Ireland international had a free-kick inside the D, and simply took one step up to the ball, scooped it over the wall and sent it in off the crossbar, setting Forest on their way to an impressive 3-1 victory against a side that would be promoted from the Championship later that season.
Nottingham Forest’s Henri Lansbury celebrates scoring their third goal
Henri Lansbury vs Bournemouth – 25/2/15
Another side that would later go on to be promoted were thwarted by a free-kick goal, with former Reds captain Henri Lansbury scoring the winning goal against a Bournemouth side who have gone on to upset several Premier League sides. Left of the goal about 20 yards out or so, Lansbury nonchalantly took one step towards the ball, curled it over the wall and tucked it into the bottom corner, sending Forest fans into jubilation.
Ben Osborn vs Bristol City – 21/1/17
An entry as recently as this season, but one that simply couldn’t have been left out. With Forest fans furiously and loudly protesting against owner Fawaz Al Hasawi before the match, the fans needed something positive from the club – and duly got it from one of their academy graduates. About 25 yards from goal, Matty Cash chose to tap the ball backwards to Osborn, who then flicked the ball up and volleyed it into the top right hand corner, leaving the goalkeeper standing still in shock at what was a truly outstanding strike.
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