Premier League: Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest - Peter White's big match preview

MARK Crossley summed up the quandary in Nottingham Forest minds as they head for Ewood tomorrow, anxious to avoid being labelled the worst Premiership side - ever.

Forest need to win at least one of their two remaining games to have a chance of avoiding the ignominy of failing to beat the 27 points recorded by Ipswich.

But, at the same time, they would prefer it if Blackburn Rovers were not one of the clubs accompanying them on the journey to the Nationwide League at the end of the season.

Crossley, who will be facing his least-favourite opposition in the shape of Rovers, is determined to win this one. But he admits that, if they do, ithere might be a price for Forest to pay next season.

"Ideally, we would not want Blackburn to go down with us," said the keeper.

"If we are going to come back up, then you would fancy that it would be easier without Blackburn in the division.

"It's a horrible situation for us. Blackburn could spend £20-30 million next season to get out of Division One, so we have to ask 'do we want them with us?'

"Having said that, we will go to Blackburn trying to win the game.

"It's very important that we get past 27 points as nobody wants that type of record hanging over them for the rest of their careers. "And it wouldn't be fair to Charlton and Southampton."

Recent history suggests that comeback keeper Crossley, now re-established after a long absence, could be in for a tough time. In just eight Premiership matches against Rovers, he has conceded a staggering 27 goals! The total includes seven on a memorable November 1995 afternoon when Jack Walker officially opened the newly-redeveloped Ewood stadium.

Towards the end of that same season, there were five more to count in front of the City Ground regulars when virtually every shot Rovers hit went in.

But, despite taking the drop once again with Forest, Crossley has not been similarly embarrassed since being handed his long-awaited senior recall at Charlton just over two months ago.

The Welsh international keeper's burly 16-stone frame will provide a formidable barrier to Rovers hopes of a boost to their safety hopes.

He enjoyed a rare Forest win over Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday but admits they can really have no complaints about their Premiership position.

"It was good to win for a change. I thought we showed a few people we can pass the ball," he said.

"The second goal we scored against Wednesday took two deflections and was the luckiest moment of the season for us.

"It's a shame it has come two or three matches too late.

"But it's not all down to luck. We are in this position because we are not good enough. Having said that, not much has gone our way either."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.