Chapter 55: Hodge’s Honor Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The 43rd round of league matches was on April 19th. Nottingham Forest played against the fourth-place team, Reading, in an away match.
"What a struggle this match has been! Nottingham Forest has had to deal with the constant resistance of the home team at the Madejski!"
"John, can this be right… why would an away team have to deal with constant resistance from the home team? Are you suggesting that Nottingham Forest has made this their home ground?"
"Stephen, you are right. Yes, Twain's team has made this their home ground!"
Listening to the commentators on the radio, James Landy hit the horn in his cab. "Good job, Tony!"
The frowning passenger in back complained, "Stop pressing that thing. I can't hear the match!"
"Oh, sorry, Sir. Are you a Forest fan, too?" The road ahead was wide with very little traffic. Landy casually talked over his shoulder to his passenger about the match.
"Of course, since I was very young." The passenger did not talk much, obviously preferring to listen to the radio. "Watch where you're going!"
"Don't worry, sir. There's not many cars on the road. Most people are watching the match at home or in a pub. And you can trust my driving skills. I've been driving for 27 years." Just as Landy finished, Motson's voice suddenly boomed out of the radio.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Eoin Jess! A beautiful direct free kick! Like an arrow piercing Reading through the heart! This is a major goal! At the 74th minute, Nottingham Forest takes the lead in an away match with the score of 1:0!"
James Landy from the front seat, and the passenger in the back raised their arms high and shouted, "Forest! Forest!"
While the two were shouting and banging their hands on the ceiling, the cab suddenly swerved. Landy grabbed the wheel and came to a screeching halt.
"You idiot b*astard! You're still driving!" The passenger was visibly shaken.
Landy was exhilarated. "Sir, I told you that you could trust my skills! Haha! Forest is the best!"
Inside Madejski Stadium, the Forest fans went nuts as they cheered loudly to celebrate their team's victory.
The final whistle was blown. Tang En and his soldiers had won a battle that influenced their fate and future. The highest commander's soldiers surrounded him to celebrate their victory. They had successfully gotten the three points and had found stable footing on their way to future ranking battles.
"Forest has won the match! It was a boring match, although I don't think Twain would agree. Those three points are precious to Forest! Thank god they won! Too bad for Reading…"
When the team left the locker room to board the bus, some of the players signed autographs for fans and took pictures with them.
Like the players, Tang En was also treated like a star. As a manager, he was happy to have fans asking for his signature.
"Hey, Tony! We're going to the Premier League, right?" There was always someone asking him about this when he walked over to the fence and signed autographs.
Twain grinned and nodded. "Yes, we will be in the Premier League!"
Then Tang En would lower his head and sign as many autographs as he could. Since the team had won the match, everyone one was in a good mood, and he was more than willing to fulfill all the fans' wishes.
Then he stopped in front of a person that didn't have a notebook, Forest postcards, a Forest Jersey, a scarf, or a hat… he just stood in front of Twain without anything in his hands for him to sign.
Curious, Tang En raised his head and was shocked to see the leader of the group that had cheered and sang so loudly at the training ground the other day.
He was an older man with grey eyes, white hair, and wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes. He seemed polite, friendly, without any of the ugly scars or crazy accessories that Tang En's imagination made the leader of such a group out to have.
The two men stared at each other.
"Mark Hodge." The leader introduced himself first and offered his hand to Twain.
Since he showed friendliness first, Tang En could not reject him, so he shook hands with him. "Tony Twain."
Hodge grinned at him. "There is no need for you to introduce yourself. Everyone knows your name. Forest owes its success to you! Great job!"
"Thanks," Tang En smiled, but couldn't really enjoy Hodge's compliments. His mind was all messy now, wondering how this polite-looking, middle-aged man could really be a leader of football hooligans. He couldn't imagine him throwing bricks at other people's heads.
"I have a question for Mr. Twain," Hodge stared at Tang En and said.
"Please, go ahead."
"The last match of league, our match with Millwall… What is your confidence level on winning that match?"
Tang En was surprised that he didn't ask if they would be in the Premier League next season, but asked about the last match instead. According to Forest's recent performance, the last league match might not be important anymore.
"It depends on the situation of the team by then. If eligibility for the playoffs is determined before that, or we get promoted directly, I would not put too much energy into the last match," Tang En answered him honestly. If reporters had asked him the same question, he would have answered differently, of course.
Hodge shook his head in disappointment. "This is not the way, Mr. Twain. I think no matter the situation going into that match, winning against Millwall is the way to go."
"Has something gone wrong with them in the past?"
Hodge ignored his question.
"Don't you think that ending the season with a victory would be best?"
Tang En thought about it, and what Hodge said made sense. He also knew that he would not like to lose to Millwall on their home ground. So, he nodded. "All right, I think it will end in victory like today."
Hodge was happy to hear Twain say this. "We all like victory, don't we?"
"That's right," Tang En agreed.
Hodge put up the hood of his pullover, said bye to Twain, and turned to leave the crowd. Tang En did not see his brothers, just him alone, which meant that he had only come for that question.
Other fans were calling him, and Tang En walked over to them.
Hodge's response was too adamant, but Tang En did not have the energy to care about why he wanted Forest to win so desperately over Millwall.
Perhaps it was just because everyone hoped to witness victory, instead of failure.