02/04/2008 - Carlisle 0 Forest 2
"YOU'VE lost that loving feeling" the Forest fans chanted in the far corner of the ground as they bounced up and down in delight.
But this might actually have been the evening when the Reds won back a little adoration from their supporters.
It is only four short seasons since Carlisle found themselves fighting to claw their way out of the Conference and back into the Football League.
And the comparisons between their recent history and Nottingham Forest's more illustrious past are obvious.
But when it comes to looking to the future, Carlisle are one of few teams who can claim to match the expectation levels that exist at the City Ground.
In their case it is not events of yesteryear that have raised the demands of supporters but a record of 14 wins, a draw and just a single defeat at Brunton Park - a ground steeped in tradition, with ramshackle terracing still providing the backdrop behind each goal.
These days, their ambitions are far more lofty, as demonstrated by the fact that Forest, the one-time kings of Europe, arrived in the North as rank underdogs.
Following their capitulation at Doncaster, that was perhaps not a surprise.
But what did come as a pleasant shock was the total contrast that Forest's performance provided last night.
Make no mistake, this was a hard-fought victory and it was one that almost certainly came too late to revive any faint hopes Forest might have of automatic promotion.
But it was a result that sent out a clear message - that a place in the Championship may not be beyond them after all as a headed 76th minute goal from Luke Chambers eased them on their way to three valuable points, soothing fears about dropping from the play-off places.
Chambers' goal was the first Forest had netted against top-three opposition this season and it took until injury time for Garath McCleary to make certain of the win as he lashed home after a shot from Emile Sinclair had been saved.
But it was no more than an industrious, well-organised Forest had deserved. Within the first 20 minutes of a game fought out in blustery conditions, they showed more endeavour and cutting edge than they had in a full 90 against Doncaster.
Chambers could have put the visitors ahead as early as the third minute, after Junior Agogo, restored to the starting line-up, won a corner wide on the left.
Lewis McGugan's delivery was cleared, but only at the expense of another flag kick on the far side, which Chris Cohen whipped in with more venom, only for Chambers to fail to properly connect with a six-yard header, with McGugan then lashing the loose ball over the target.
McGugan, another man given a chance following a switch to an attacking 4-3-3 by Calderwood, pressured again as he burst into the box, but will have been disappointed to see his shot charged down.
Cohen too will have been frustrated not to make more of an early chance, after the wily Brett Ormerod had exchanged passes with him down the right to create space for him to stride into space on the edge of the box, where he failed to properly connect with a low drive, presenting Keiren Westwood with a simple save.
Carlisle seemed to lack teeth in the early exchanges, with a rising strike from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, that flew wide, and a swirling deep cross from Evan Horwood, that Julian Bennett had to clear, the closest they came to scoring.
Once Agogo had given Carlisle another scare did the home side begin to demonstrate their ability.
The in-form Danny Graham managed to elude the attentions of Wes Morgan but he stroked a low shot the wrong side of the post.
Nathan Tyson's pace carried him beyond the home defence wide on the left to square a low ball across the face of goal, but it flew between Agogo and Ormerod.
There was still work for Paul Smith to do as he made his first save of note, falling bravely at the feet of Graham.
There was bad news at the interval as Tyson was withdrawn, as a precaution, after a twinge in his hamstring.
But his replacement, McCleary, was immediately involved as his first touch took him beyond his marker and teed up the opportunity for McGugan to drive into the side netting from 18-yards.
A second injury quickly forced the Reds into another change as Morgan was replaced by Ian Breckin.
But it was Smith who was called into action again as Graham went looking for his sixth goal in 12 matches with a fierce 25-yard attempt that the keeper parried.
McCleary, as he has done repeatedly in the reserves since signing from Bromley, cut in from the right on to his left boot to force a good stop from Westwood.
And the pressure was eventually to pay when McGugan earned, and then took, a free-kick wide on the right and picked out Chambers with a pin-point cross, which the defender powered home.
Smith then had to produce his best to block Graham from close range again and also to parry a bending free-kick from Bridge-Wilkinson.
But Forest too had their chances, with Westwood producing a remarkable stop to deny Agogo, from a stinging volley, before McCleary popped up to ensure the travelling fans went home happy - and, perhaps, with some new found optimism.