TEMPORARY Nottingham Forest boss John Pemberton masterminded the club's best win in recent years - and then turned his attention to a reserve team encounter at Lincoln.
Pemberton oversaw a stunning 3-0 FA Cup third-round win over Manchester City at Eastlands but will now step aside for Billy Davies, who has been installed as permanent successor to Colin Calderwood following his sacking after the depressing Boxing Day defeat to Doncaster.
"Billy spoke with the players this morning but he wanted to leave it today because it was such short notice," said Pemberton.
"I just wanted the lads to give a good account of themselves and get them ready to play.
"Winning is fantastic but on Monday morning I will be back to my normal job, getting the reserve team ready for a game against Lincoln City away on Wednesday.
"That is how things are in football. You get highs and lows. I have been at Nottingham Forest a long time and I am happy to work at the club."
In the aftermath of that defeat to Doncaster, even the most optimistic Forest fan would have struggled to believe their side could register such an amazing win.
The visitors had already started brightly when Nathan Tyson belted them in front with a superb volley, followed quickly by a Robert Earnshaw effort after Pablo Zabaleta had needlessly lost possession close to the touchline.
If that was bad, the third was even worse for City, who never looked like mounting a successful comeback with Robinho missing and Shaun Wright-Phillips taken off after just 18 minutes with a hamstring injury.
Under no pressure, Dietmar Hamann tried to find Richard Dunne with a throw-in close to the goal-line. Instead it went straight to Joe Garner, who promptly dispatched a third from an acute angle to send the City faithful into turmoil and raise more question marks about the future of Mark Hughes.
The Blues boss is not Pemberton's concern. Indeed, it was his goal at Wembley in 1990 that prevented Pemberton's Crystal Palace side winning the FA Cup, hitherto the former defender's most notable achievement in the competition.
"It is up there with it," reflected Pemberton on how today's success measures up against the 4-3 epic with Liverpool almost two decades ago.
"Beating Liverpool at Villa Park was unbelievable but today was probably the highlight of my career.
"To win 3-0 against a Manchester City side stuffed with talent - and deserve it - was fabulous."
mfl
"Billy spoke with the players this morning but he wanted to leave it today because it was such short notice," said Pemberton.
"I just wanted the lads to give a good account of themselves and get them ready to play.
"Winning is fantastic but on Monday morning I will be back to my normal job, getting the reserve team ready for a game against Lincoln City away on Wednesday.
"That is how things are in football. You get highs and lows. I have been at Nottingham Forest a long time and I am happy to work at the club."
In the aftermath of that defeat to Doncaster, even the most optimistic Forest fan would have struggled to believe their side could register such an amazing win.
The visitors had already started brightly when Nathan Tyson belted them in front with a superb volley, followed quickly by a Robert Earnshaw effort after Pablo Zabaleta had needlessly lost possession close to the touchline.
If that was bad, the third was even worse for City, who never looked like mounting a successful comeback with Robinho missing and Shaun Wright-Phillips taken off after just 18 minutes with a hamstring injury.
Under no pressure, Dietmar Hamann tried to find Richard Dunne with a throw-in close to the goal-line. Instead it went straight to Joe Garner, who promptly dispatched a third from an acute angle to send the City faithful into turmoil and raise more question marks about the future of Mark Hughes.
The Blues boss is not Pemberton's concern. Indeed, it was his goal at Wembley in 1990 that prevented Pemberton's Crystal Palace side winning the FA Cup, hitherto the former defender's most notable achievement in the competition.
"It is up there with it," reflected Pemberton on how today's success measures up against the 4-3 epic with Liverpool almost two decades ago.
"Beating Liverpool at Villa Park was unbelievable but today was probably the highlight of my career.
"To win 3-0 against a Manchester City side stuffed with talent - and deserve it - was fabulous."
mfl
Copyright (c) Press Association
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