It's funny what a couple of 3-2 wins can do!

Suddenly things are looking a damn sight rosier in the top six garden and a win against Scunny will push us to the brink of the chaotic and dramatic ride that is the play-offs.

Four of us arrived in Bristol just shy of half twelve. It was a pain to even try and get a beer with the only two in the vicinity of the ground adopting a strict home fans only policy. We didn't even get through the door of the B3S bar; stopped in our tracks by the doorman who insisted he see our tickets. The Elliot next door did at least let us in but we soon had problems. Mitchell and I were served without issue and found ourselves a table in the beer garden only for Trig and PL to follow us with the news that we had been asked to leave. The barmaid had tried to take Trig's drink back when she discovered he wasn't a Bristolian but he had managed to keep hold of it although PL didn't manage to get served at all!

We drank slowly, fully aware that we were expected to leave as soon as we had finished. They couldn't throw us out as we had a 'contract' as such after money had changed hands. Eventually, we realised we weren't that keen on leaving so we thought we'd try our luck at getting another round. Neither Mitchell or myself had actually been told to leave so I headed up to the bar and thankfully wasn't questioned. It was only twenty minutes or so later when we were almost ready to leave that the same barmaid appeared next to our table. She looked particularly unimpressed with PL's treachery but we were told her that we were off anyway and she relaxed insisting that it was on police orders that away fans could not be served.

We were in the ground by 2.15pm. Past visits to Ashton Gate have taught me that this is necessary as arriving much later means you usually lose half of your view of the pitch behind an ugly metal pillar. We were soon joined by Hawks and his mrs who were heading back from Cornwall.

Come half time we were all delighted with how things were going. 2-0 up away from home (when was that last the case?) and the home supporters were getting restless from the second the penalty went in. The first many of us knew of the trouble was when a large steward flew down the aisle towards the front. He was heading to our left where police were piling in to a disturbance which I still don't know anything about. Hilariously, the said steward didn't make it quite as quick as he would have liked as he went for a little tumble right in front of the away end much to our delight.

Things seemed to be under control only for one bloke to vault the wall at the front and run onto the pitch while play was continuing at the other end. He ran past us to the Bristol fans in the same stand and began saluting them while a steward was hot on his trail. Inevitably he was caught and we witnessed our second tumble in a matter of seconds which brought about another large cheer. The invader was held right in front of the away end and was the subject of much ridicule.

The plan seemed simple. Hold out for the first fifteen minutes and we would be able to move out from there and hopefully grab a killer third to finish them off. Typically, fifteen minutes in and we were looking like we would be going behind! We were rocking for a while but were still having the odd chance. Earnshaw should have scored when he twisted onto a floated free kick but it looked like a point would be our best hope at that stage.

From somewhere, though, the Reds found some much needed resolve and it was magnificent when Chambo looped that header in to restore our lead. The away support was naturally delighted but you had to wonder with our current defensive record whether we could hang on.

We could have had another five and they could have had another couple but we weren't bothered that the score remained the same. The disallowed goal for them was a horrible and confusing moment but by the end of it I was stood on my chair and jumping around out of pure relief!

At full time, Billy huddled his players together (once he had managed to stop Chambo going absolutely mental with the fans) and they had an impromptu meeting in front of us. 'We love you Forest, we do' we sang and there was a sense of real excitement among us; one which has been missing for a long time now.

Our destiny is well and truly back in our own hands and we couldn't wish for a better game to kick on with then the one we have next. If we don't win that one then we don't deserve to make it.

COME ON YOU REDS

Away Days will return following what I expect will be quite a weekend in London over the 8th and 9th of May! In fact, considering one of our fellow travellers for the weekend, it might even find its way into the local ITV sports news on the Monday night.