STATISTICS can tell you many things – but they do not always paint a complete picture.

Nottingham Forest, for example, have scored in ten consecutive games.

They are unbeaten during the same period – the last time they lost was in early February, at Bristol City.

But are they firing on all cylinders? No. They are not.

They have drawn three games in a row, amid three very different matches.

And now I believe they need to get a win at either Cardiff or Middlesbrough, if they are to make sure they do not drop out of the top six.

Yes, there is a mood of confidence, Forest are full of self-belief.

And they have one man to thank for that – because Billy Davies has sent both things through the roof since he returned to the club.

But there remains another issue he needs to address, one that may just transform Forest from a side that is drawing matches, into one that is winning games, at a vital stage in the campaign.

He needs to get his strikers scoring goals again.

During the run of six consecutive wins, the scoring form of Forest's midfield was so prolific that it was not an issue.

You felt that Forest were always going to get a goal from somewhere; where it came from did not matter.

Henri Lansbury, Radi Majewski, Andy Reid and Lewis McGugan always looked to be a threat.

But it is no coincidence that, in the last three games subsequently, we have gone through another spell without a goal from a front man.

Darius Henderson netted on a dramatic afternoon in Hull, when Forest made it six wins on the bounce, almost a month ago.

But going back to the stats, Henderson is also the only forward to have found the back of the net for Forest in more than two months.

You have to go back to the final minute of the 2-1 defeat at Birmingham, on February 2, for the last time another striker scored, with Billy Sharp converting from the spot.

Simon Cox has been playing very well. His industry and work-rate are enough for him to deserve his place in the side.

But, whether it is him, Sharp, Henderson or Dexter Blackstock, it is time for the front men to start doing what they are paid for – scoring a goal or two.

Forest are going to need something special to get a win at Cardiff, who have only been beaten twice on home turf all season.

Which means they need one of their match winners to step forward and do exactly that.

Yes, it is great when the midfield do get goals, because it takes the pressure off your forward line.

But that pressure has been off for weeks now, on that front – it is time for them to deliver.

Over the remaining five games, Forest need the players who are best equipped to get goals to do exactly that.

And yes, before anyone says it, I am not overlooking the achievements of McGugan in the past month or so.

Six goals in six games is truly an outstanding record, particularly considering five of those have come off the bench.

He is currently a man with a point to prove, given that he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Whatever his motivation is, he is clearly full of determination right at this minute.

Maybe it is because he wants to put himself in the shop window, given that he can move on a Bosman in the summer.

Maybe he wants to earn a new deal at the City Ground.

Either way, having left it this long to resolve the situation, there is no point in having a panic about it now.

It actually seems to be working in Forest's favour because, whether it is because he wants to stay or he wants to go, there is absolutely no question that McGugan is playing at his peak right now.

But, from that point of view, I would absolutely love it if McGugan did not need to come off the bench on Saturday – because Forest did not need him.

It would be fantastic if Forest could get a nice, comfortable two-goal lead in South Wales, so that they did not even need to turn to their talismanic midfielder to provide a goal to get them out of a hole.

It would be even better if, for the first time in four matches, Forest did not concede the first goal, leaving themselves needing to claw their way back into the game.

In an ideal world, Forest would bring an end to another statistic, by scoring in the first 15 minutes of a Championship match, for the first time this season, to put themselves ahead.

And it would be fantastic if that goal came from the boot of a striker.

But, as I said at the start, statistics can be used to tell many different stories.

And the only one that really matters is that, over the course of two difficult away games between now and next Tuesday, Forest collect enough points to keep them in the top six.

NOTTINGHAM Panthers today confirmed that assistant coach Rick Strachan will again be alongside head coach Corey Neilson in an increased capacity next season.

As well as being behind the bench on match nights, the former Hull and GB coach will also spend more time at training during the week.

Neilson said: "Rick does a great job for us and I wanted him back, in fact he's going to be around even more next season and that can only help us."

A MAN whose headless and armless body was found in a shallow grave in Sneinton was partially dismembered on a bed.

Kevin Kennedy's body had been cut up with a carpentry saw and knife before he was left in a shallow grave between Rossington Road and Burrows Court, Sneinton, on August 8 last year. Peter Healy, 51, of Lord Nelson Street, Sneinton, and Healy's ex-girlfriend Tara Swift, 41, of West Street, Leicester, deny his murder. Jurors heard scientific findings suggested Mr Kennedy was assaulted with multiple blows whilst sat in an armchair at Swift's then home in Rossington Road. Dilute blood in a back room was consistent with an account that water was thrown over him. Heavy bloodstaining on a mattress upstairs indicated he had lain there for some time and was partially dismembered there. A pathologist, who examined Mr Kennedy's body, could not find an obvious cause of death. He appeared to have been decapitated with a knife and a saw, Nottingham Crown Court heard. An expert who examined some of the bones had the opinion a carpentry saw was used to cut off the head and right arm. Scientists discovered a trail of blood spots between the front door and the rear sitting room at the house. They found a heavily bloodstained cream coloured armchair, blood splattering on the walls, cast-off bloodstaining on the ceiling and a pool of blood on the floor. DNA from Mr Kennedy was on a chair leg and a legless chair had a small bloodstain from Healy on it, indicting Healy had hold of the chair while bleeding himself. Some of the other bloodstaining matched Kennedy's DNA. In a bedroom they found blood had soaked through a mattress to the divan underneath. The science supported the view that Mr Kennedy was laid on the bed, whilst bleeding from his injuries, and at least part of the dismemberment of one his arms took place on or near the mattress, the court heard. Mr Kennedy, 50, who had lived with his girlfriend Swift and at the London Road Project, Nottingham, was last seen alive on CCTV on July 17, walking toward Rossington Road with a blue carrier bag. The following day Swift allegedly told a woman that Healy had been beating up Mr Kennedy and Mr Kennedy had been begging her to call an ambulance. Swift claimed she was too scared to do so, fearing that if she had called an ambulance, she, too, would have been beaten up by Healy. "She said Kevin Kennedy had been left at her home and they had locked him in," said Timothy Spencer, QC, prosecuting. Mr Spencer said in due course Swift presented herself to police as a "helpless bystander" – helpless to prevent a horrific assault which she says she witnessed by Healy on Mr Kennedy. Healy allegedly told a friend in Hucknall he had been in a fight with a man at "Tara's place". The prosecution say that within four hours of the last sighting of Mr Kennedy he had been fatally attacked. Healy had allegedly been well aware that Mr Kennedy was the new man in Swift's life. Mr Spencer said: "The prosecution say Healy was a jealous man. He was aware Tara Swift had taken up with Kevin Kennedy." Mr Spencer said that there was no CCTV footage of either defendant on July 18 going anywhere near Rossington Road. "We say they were deliberately staying away from 63 Rossington Road, as they knew perfectly well the enormity of what had gone on the evening or night before." Days on from the attack, they were caught on CCTV in the Rossington Road area. Healy allegedly got "rid of something" in one of the shots, say prosecutors. The case continues.

WHEN Leo Neelands sits back and watches one of the year's biggest blockbusters, he will be able to feel a sense of pride at his involvement in it.

The 36-year-old worked as a digital compositor on Iron Man 3, which is due for release on Thursday, April 25.

But working on a big-budget movie is nothing new to him, with last year's The Hobbit and Robin Hood in 2010 also featuring on his CV.

He said: "I am doing the job I always wanted to do. The work is hard but it is enjoyable, exciting and interesting.

"The rewards can be great, with the possibility of travelling the world."

Leo is unable to talk about the exact details of his work on Iron Man 3 – which stars Robert Downey Jnr and Gwyneth Paltrow.

As a digital compositor he created visual effects using computer generated imagery (CGI).

He spent nine weeks earlier this year working on the film, having been contracted by visual effects specialists Fuel FX, based in Sydney.

During his film career, Leo has travelled to as far afield as New Zealand and the USA – a far cry from his childhood in Newark, where he attended Magnus School.

After a few years working as a sound engineer, he went to South Nottingham College (now Central College Nottingham). He gained a Higher National Diploma in interactive media with distinction in all units at the college's Charnwood Centre in Clifton from 2005 to 2006.

It was then that he upped sticks and moved to London.

He re-mortgaged his home to pay for an intensive course in digital compositing and managed to get a job at Elstree Studios, working on a children's TV series, before getting his break in the film world.

He worked for the Moving Picture Company from 2008 to 2009, on films including Sweeney Todd, James Bond's Quantum of Solace, GI Joe and Robin Hood.

Leo then moved to Weta, a company based in New Zealand, where he worked on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

He said: "Sometimes I was doing 23-hour days. It was demanding, but enjoyable. One of the scenes I worked on was the prologue, where the dragon attacks Rivendell."

Leo doesn't have a permanent job, with most firms looking for temporary staff while films are in production.

And he's now looking to work on smaller films, which he says will allow him to be even more creative.

He said: "It's great working on the big films. But they have set ideas you have to stick to. On the lower-budget films you can express yourself a bit more, so I'd like to do a few more of those.

"I've had to go where the work is. You have to be willing to move somewhere at the drop of a hat. You can't afford to be tied down."

Central College Nottingham course leader Tony Parr said: "Leo is an inspiration to other students and indicates what is possible with the right attitude and application whilst studying on a vocational degree."

DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, who is due to meet Prince Harry in Nottingham, knows the effects of a brain injury all too well.

On July 20, 2010 the championship rower was attempting to cycle, run, row and swim between Los Angeles and New York in just 16 days.

But while cycling through Arizona, James was hit from behind by a petrol tanker travelling at more than 65mph, the tanker's wing mirror smashing against the back of his head.

His helmet – made by Merida Bicycles Ltd, of Wilford – saved his life. Even with the helmet, James was in intensive care for a week. He had fractured the base of his skull and suffered frontal lobe damage and spent the next three months on a neuro-trauma recovery ward.

While there he began to relearn basic cognitive skills before returning home.

It is at this point that Headway got involved.

The charity supported James and his wife Beverley Turner throughout his recovery.

But as with most brain trauma, the effects for James are long term and the injury has damaged his short-term memory and made him quick-tempered. He said: "I can walk, I can talk and I have two healthy kids and a gorgeous wife but no one can see what is going on under the surface.

"I can't multi-task. I become frustrated quickly and I can't plan things logically."

PRINCE Harry is often thought of as the most "fun" member of the royal household.

Combined with the fact that he is about to become an uncle for the first time, it is unsurprising that his visit to Nottingham will have a big focus on young people.

His Royal Highness will arrive in Nottingham for a whistle-stop tour of the city on Thursday, April 25.

And his first stop will be to brain injury charity Headway, where he will officially open the charity's new headquarters in Bagnall Road, Old Basford.

During the visit he will chat to brain injury survivors who will be taking on a charity challenge in 2014, the details of which have yet to be announced, and the service's volunteers and staff.

He will also meet double Olympic gold medallist and Headway vice-president James Cracknell and Headway special ambassador Johnson Beharry VC, both of who are living with the long-term effects of brain injury.

In choosing to support Headway, Prince Harry follows in his mother's footsteps, because Diana, Princess of Wales, occupied the role of the charity's Royal Patron from 1991 to 1996.

The chairman of Headway, Andrew Green, is thrilled and delighted about the visit.

"Princess Diana's support of the charity greatly enhanced its profile and made more people aware not only of brain injury and its effects, but also of the help that was available," he said.

"We hope Prince Harry's visit will help us achieve similar results and we offer our sincere thanks to His Royal Highness for taking time out of his busy schedule to support us in this way. It will be a momentous day in the history of the charity."

From Headway, Harry will make his way across the city to the Russell Youth Club in St Ann's.

Four organisations will be showcased at the youth club in Lowdham Street – including education projects the Epic Partnership and Learn 2 Learn Comprehensive, the KK Boxing Club and the Community Recording Studio.

Prince Harry will view sports, arts and music demonstrations and speak to teenagers while touring the youth club.

The final call Prince Harry will make will be to Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, in Beck Street in the city centre. The centre provides training for jobs in creative industries, such as recording studios and media work, and is part of the consortium hoping to set up a Notts TV station.

During his visit to the studio, the Prince will launch the Notts TV Institute ahead of the channel being broadcast in 2014.

He will also be given a tour the building meeting some of Confetti's 1,500 students along the way.

Confetti managing director Craig Chettle will escort Prince Harry on the tour.

He said: "I am honoured that Confetti has been selected to form part of Prince Harry's visit to Nottingham.

"We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements, some of which have been as a result of adversity.

"We are really keen to show Prince Harry the students' journey – from learning practical and vocational creative skills, through to the real industry working environment of Antenna.

"We sincerely hope he goes away feeling encouraged by what he has seen here and also that our students have a day to remember."

Nottingham City Council chief executive Ian Curryer said: "We are pleased that Prince Harry is interested in visiting Nottingham and we are looking forward to welcoming here.

"It will be a great opportunity for him to not only see the city but also find out about some of the great things our young people are involved with in Nottingham's thriving creative sector, as well as projects addressing the challenges and issues which some of them face.

"I'm sure that both he and the young people he meets will benefit from the experience and we're hopeful we might work with him in the future to help Nottingham's young people achieve their ambitions." Have a look at our gallery of Prince Harry's best bits to get you in the mood for his visit here.

FIRST-TIME buyers in Gedling will remain eligible for mortgages with five per cent deposits for the next year through £1 million of council funding.

The Local Lend a Hand Scheme from Gedling Borough Council has been extended for another 12 months.

Since last April, Gedling Borough Council has helped 33 families complete their mortgage application, with four more having been offered a mortgage.

A further eight families are currently awaiting an offer.

Ben Swanwick, 33, and Hannah Gregory, 28, used the scheme to buy a house in September last year.

Mr Swanwick said: "We would never have been able to afford to buy without the 5 per cent deposit. The more we saved, the more banks seemed to be after."

They were approved based on details of their earnings and outgoings, and bought their four-bedroom terrace house in Gedling Road for £110,000, where they live with their sons Jayson, 19, and Isaac, 2.

They were renting a two-bedroom house in Daybrook when Mr Swanwick stumbled across the scheme.

He said: "I was on the council website looking for rubbish collection dates and saw the advert.

"We weren't sure about it at first, but it enabled us to get something in the area we wanted to live in so it's great. "We've got a driveway and a garden so it's worked out well."

Mortgage payments will be protected under the scheme, so repossession can be avoided if payments are missed.

The council, through Lloyds TSB, will also seek to provide cheaper rates for first-time buyers under the scheme.

The deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, Michael Payne, said: "It's an outstanding scheme based on the results.

"We are very proud of the scheme and it helps families through tough times."

The Government is set to introduce a similar scheme nationally, called NewBuy.

"To see similar schemes nationally and in other councils shows it has been a success," added Mr Payne.

But The Nottingham Building Society insists it has been offering 95 per cent mortgages to residents in Notts since 2008. The society's chief executive, David Marlow, told the Post: "In that period we have lent over £350 million to new home owners both in the Nottinghamshire and East Midlands.

"In recent months we have been pleased to see some new initiatives aimed at providing assistance for those looking to buy their first home."

NOTTINGHAM Forest want to deliver a "big message" to the rest of the Championship – by beating leaders Cardiff City on their own turf tomorrow.

Striker Simon Cox wants the Reds to prove they are "up for the fight" as the promotion races reaches a nail-biting finale.

And he believes there is no better way of demonstrating they mean business than by becoming just the third team to win in South Wales.

Cox admits Forest have been disappointed with three consecutive draws, even if they have extended their unbeaten run under Billy Davies to ten games.

But he is in bullish mood ahead of facing Cardiff.

"If we go to there and get three points, it will send out a big message to the teams around us," he said.

"It will tell them 'do you know what? We are up for the fight here'.

"We do not want to put ourselves in a good position and then fade away and have another season where we end up saying 'Oh well, never mind'.

"We want to show people that we have the fight in us, that we are going to win the big games.

"We want to go as far as we can."

Cox, primarily, wants to see Forest get back to their best against the Red Dragons.

"Over the last three games, as a team and as a squad, we are disappointed with what we have accumulated, points wise," he said.

"I think we felt that we were better than that – during the time when the manager has been here, we have been better than that.

"We need to get back to winning games. Draws are not enough for us at the minute.

"Tomorrow will be a tough one for us, then we go to Boro.

"I am hoping that we can come out of that spell with a good amount of points."

Manager Davies has stated he believes two or three wins will be required from the final five games, if Forest are to secure a top-six finish.

"We are not going to go into games thinking 'we need two or three wins'. We need to just focus on this game and on how we can get a result from that," said Cox.

"If the manager thinks we need two or three wins, then that is what we will be looking to get."