Match Report: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Place. Wood rescues point as Reds climb out bottom three.

 

Nottingham Forest came from behind to secure a point after drawing 1-1 with London club Crystal Palace at the City Ground.  A second half header from Chris Wood cancelled out a first half goal from Jean Philippe Mateta as the Reds climb out the relegation zone after their four points deduction. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made three changes from the side that drew to Luton Town last time out. Ola Aina returned from injury as he replaced Harry Toffolo at left back. Callum Hudson-Odoi made his first start in three games replacing the reliable Anthony Elanga. The other change came in defence as Felipe replaced an injured Willy Boly. Oliver Glasner made the one change from the side that drew to Luton in their last outing a week before the Hatters faced Forest. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone picked up an injury on international duty so Dean Henderson came in to face the side he spent last season on loan with. 

It took ten minutes for the away side to take. A ball got played into Eberchi Eze in a central position as he cut the ball back to Mateta who’s first time shot beat Matz Sels. A sixth goal of the season for the big Frenchman as his physical presence causing issues for the Forest defence. 

The Eagles almost got a second when Adam Wharton played a ball through to Eze who went one one one with Sels but was denied by the Belgium international. Eze picking up a lot of space between the Forest midfield and defence as Forest couldn’t seem to pick him up. 

That was it for the first half with an extremely disappointing half for Forest as they couldn’t get into the game in what was a crucial match for Nuno’s side. Palace were finding it easy and needed to hold on just to ease any sort of relegation fears. Forest made a substitute at the break with Elanga replacing Ibrahim Sangare. 

Forest started the second half off brightly. Morgan Gibbs-White lifting the ball to Callum Hudson-Odoi who cut in from the left but was denied by Henderson. A first real opportunity of the game for the Reds with Henderson being tested for the first time. 

With half an hour to go, Forest found a equaliser. Gibbs-White with a ball from deep found Wood who, with his back turned to goal, headed the ball over Henderson as it looped into the net. The Reds top scorer with goals in back to back games and taking his tally up to ten this season in the Premier League. 

Forest had another chance when substitute Giovani Reyna took aim from distance but was denied by Henderson. 

That was it for the game as neither side could find the winning goal. A much better second half for Forest in comparison to their poor first half showing. The point takes them out the bottom three and level on points with Luton Town in a tense relegation battle. The Reds next entertain Marco Silva’s Fulham in a midweek clash at the City Ground. Palace will be disappointed not to hold on to the lead but a point closer to safety to keep up a decent start over Glasner. The result leaves the Eagles 14th in the table with a game away to AFC Bournemouth up next. 

Match Report- Luton Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest. Berry scores late goal to keep relegation battle alive.

 

Nottingham Forest threw away a 1-0 lead late on as they drew 1-1 with relegation rivals Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in a key encounter in the Premier League relegation battle. Chris Wood’s first half strike was cancelled out by a Luke Berry equaliser just before stoppage time as Forest miss a chance to build a gap between them and today’s  opponents. 

Rob Edwards made one change from his side that capitulated against Bournemouth in the week. Daiki Hashioka came out the defence as Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu came in and stepped into midfield which saw Issa Kabore drop to a deeper defensive role. Nuno Espírito Santo made three changes from the side that lost at Brighton & Hove Albion. Andrew Omobamidele came out the side after his own goal and was replaced by Willy Boly. Danilo and Nicolas Dominguez also came out the side and we’re replaced by Anthony Elanga and Ibrahim Sangare as the Reds switched up the formation. 

It was Luton who came close first. Carlton Morris brought the ball down for Jordan Clark to have an attempt from the edge of the box but his low shot was saved well by Selz as Luton looked to start off on the front foot. 

It was Forest turn to then come close. Anthony Elanga sent a ball right side to Divock Origi and his shot beat Thomas Kaminski but was blocked on the line by Reece Burke. Origi struggling to find that finishing touch with just one goal to his name in all competitions since joining on loan in the summer. 

Forest then took a vital lead and it was Wood on his second game since returning from injury. Gibbs-White from the right side of the box sent the ball across into a perfect position for Wood to score from close range. The Forest top scorer having an instant impact on his return and has kept up his scoring form from before his injury. 

The home side then thought they were level. Alfie Doughty’s corner was met by Teden Mengi who scrambled in from close range but it was deemed that the former Derby County defender used his hand in the process and the goal was instantly disallowed. Despite the goal being disallowed, it showed Forest’s vulnerability from set pieces in which could be key for a Luton goal. 

That was it for the first half with Forest going in 1-0 up. A big lead for the Reds in the relegation six pointer despite a very sloppy start to proceedings in Luton. The home side saw chances come but not much troubled goalkeeper Selz and a big second half was needed by the Hatters if they wanted to leave the relegation zone. There was a half time substitute from Luton as Cauley Woodrow replaced Doughty. 

Forest started the second half off brightly when Wood and Elanga played a one-two and the latter got his shot off and past Kaminski but again was cleared off the line again this time by Mengi. The young Englishman becoming a hero for Edward’s side to keep them in the game 

Then a moment of madness almost saw Murillo score one of the goals of the season. A free kick from his own half had Kaminski back peddling towards goal and the former Blackburn Rovers keeper just about tipped over the bar. Murillo is still without a goal for Forest and that would have been some way to get his first. 

With just a minute to go until stoppage time, Luton equalised. A Ross Barkley corner was headed down into the path of substitute Berry who swept home inside the box to claim a late leveller. A big goal in the relegation battle with Berry netting his first goal of the season and to give Forest more late heartbreak. 

That was the final action of the game as both sides had to settle for a point in a big relegation battle. The gap between the sides stays at three points with Luton sat 18th and Forest just above them. The Hatters travel to Tottenham Hotspur next with Forest hosting Crystal Palace after the international break. With Forest points deduction looming, it will be an interesting end of the season for both these sides in the battle for survival. 

Match Report- Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Nottingham Forest. Omobamidele scores own goal as Forest go three without scoring.

 

Brighton & Hove Albion piled more misery on Nottingham Forest after beating the Reds 1-0 at the American Express Stadium. An own goal from Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele got the Seagulls over the line in the end as the Reds slip ever so closer to the relegation zone. 

Roberto De Zerbi made seven changes from the side that were heavily defeated by Roma in the Europa League. Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Igor, Billy Gilmour, Facundo Buonanotte, Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck all came out the side and got replaced by Bart Verbruggen, Joel Veltman, Pervis Estupinan, Carlos Baleba, Jakub Moder, Ansu Fati and Evan Ferguson. Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes to the side that suffered late heartbreak at the hands of Liverpool last weekend. Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi both came out the side as Chris Wood returned from injury and Danilo came into the side as well. 

Brighton were the first side to have a real opportunity. A Pascal Gross free kick found the head of Moder and he was brilliant denied by Matz Sells with a quick reaction save. The keeper having a comfortable time on Trentside and is yet to put a foot wrong since joining the club in January. 

The home side then took the lead through the same combination causing problems . Gross’ free kick saw Moder rise highest at the front post with the ball coming back off Omobamidele and going in. A first own goal of the season by Forest despite protests from the players that Selz was impeded. 

Forest came close to an instant equaliser. Morgan Gibbs-White lofting a ball in the air to Divock Origi and he went through but was denied by Verbruggen. Origi getting much more game time as of late for the Reds as he has started the last three Forest games. 

That was it for the first half as Brighton went in 1-0 up. The hosts were looking dangerous from set-pieces and had a lot of the ball, a familiar science for Forest and their fans. Forest were struggling to keep hold of the ball and were having a poor afternoon. A big second half was needed from Nuno’s side. 

Forest came close to an equaliser when Gibbs-White sent a ball in from the right and Wood brought it down but was denied by the keeper as his shot went towards the bottom corner. 

The home side almost sealed the game when substitute Enciso took aim from distance but his shot went just over the cross bar. 

That was the final action of the game as Brighton came away with three points. The Seagulls not at their best but did enough to beat a struggling Forest. A result that puts Brighton 8th in the league with a game against Roma next up for De Zerbi’s side. Another disappointing afternoon for Forest as it’s now three league defeats in a row for Nuno’s side. The Reds remain 17th just three points ahead of next week’s opponents Luton Town in what is a crucial match at Kenilworth Road. 

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool. Nunez snatches late winner while Forest left to wonder refereeing decisions.

 Liverpool scored deep into second half injury time to salvage all three points at the City Ground after beating Nottingham Forest 1-0. Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score the winning goal after a controversial moment occurred just minutes before the late winner. It’s back to back late heartbreak for Forest after the 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the week. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made four changes from the defeat in the FA Cup. Matz Sels and Nicolas Dominguez both returned to the side with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andrew Omobamidele joining them. Matt Turner, Felipe, Danilo and Taiwo Awoniyi all came out the side. Jurgen Klopp made the same number of changes to his side that beat Championship Southampton in the Cup. Ibrahima Konate, Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz all returned to the side as Klopp put out a strengthened side for their return to Premier League action. 

The first half had very little chances. The biggest chance coming to the home side. Former Liverpool man Divock Origi playing the ball behind the defence for Anthony Elanga who went one on one with Caoimhin Kelleher but was denied by the Irish keeper.  Elanga playing a more central roll and trying to use his pace to get in behind the Liverpool defence. 

That was the best chance any team got as they went in goalless at the interval. Liverpool were getting the best out of cutting the ball back to the edge of the box from a wide position but none of their efforts troubled Sells. Forest were trying to hit the visitors on the counter attack as they were struggling to sustain the ball for a long period of time. 

Forest had another big chance in the second half through Elanga. Harry Toffolo from the left side pulled the ball across the box for Elanga to shoot first time but his shot went narrowly wide of the bottom corner. Another big chance for the Swede who has five goals to his name this season. 

Sels then made a brilliant save late on to keep Forest in the game. A Konstantinos Tsmikas corner seemed to hit the back of Murillo and Sels quick reactions prevented the ball from crossing the line. A big save from the keeper who hasn’t put a foot wrong since joining the Reds on deadline day in January. 

Then right at the death, Liverpool found the winner. Forest failed to clear from a corner which saw Alexis Mac Allister send the ball towards the far post for substitute Darwin Nunez to head into the back of the net. A tenth league goal of the season for the 24 year old and a key one for Liverpool’s title charge. 

That was the final action case of the afternoon as Liverpool secured all three points late on. A tough pill to take for Nuno’s side after a battling display. It’s another afternoon where Forest will feel let down by the officials with Forest not receiving the ball back following a head injury while they were in possession just minutes before the goal. The Reds are now 17th in the table with a trip to the South Coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion next up on the cards. A big win for Liverpool as they stretch a winning run to six games in all competitions. The Reds maintain their place at the top and go four points clear ahead of Manchester City who have a game in hand. It is Europa League action next for Klopp’s side who travel to Czech Republic to face Sparta Prague.