Nottingham Forest 1-1 Reading (EFL Championship) 22.01.20

History repeated itself last night for Nottingham Forest who once again let a late goal lead slip to only take a point from their game against Reading.

Eleven days ago at the Madejski it was Ben Watson’s injury time strike that was cancelled out as Tobias Figueiredo put through his own net moments after, this time it was Lewis Grabban who finally put Forest in the lead in the 80^th minute only for Sam Baldock to see his shot trickle over the line four minutes later. Ironically if Forest had taken the extra four points from leading positions against Reading that they perhaps should of they would be sitting level on points with second placed Leeds right now.

On a cold and misty night Trentside the game and atmosphere at the City Ground never really punched into life during a first half where both sides cancelled each other out. Joe Lolley forcing Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael to save down low to his right as he whisked a low drive from outside the area towards the Bridgford End goal, the nearest Forest would come.

Lolley who was stunning at the weekend against Luton again went close as his free kick from the right wing evaded all including the far post before Reading mounted an attack, the impressive Ejaria carrying forward offloading to Swift who pulled back for Obita to shoot low from outside the area, testing Samba who fortuitously deflected it wide for a corner.

In the second half Obita again warmed the hands of Samba whilst Cash whisked a shot wide with the outside of his right foot. As the game fizzled into what looked like a cold, frosty, misty scoreless draw the Reds came alive to produce a warming bit of football and the games opening goal.

Bruno Ribeiro combined with Sammy Ameobi down the left with a neat one two before pulling back to Ameobi who’s shot come cross raced across the face of the goal for Lewis Grabban to do what he does best, his instinct and positional sense, a proven goalscorer is as good as anybody’s at Championship level.

That goal should have been enough to seal the win and send Forest to within two points of the automatic promotion places but as quickly as the home fans were screaming “don’t mess this up again” The Royals went down the other end and levelled with yet another fortuitous goal that the Reds might have been able to stop. Obita crossed to Baldock who seemed to be going nowhere but with his back to goal and three defenders around him he quickly spun and shot sharply which seemed to catch Samba off guard and the Frenchman could only get finger tips to the ball which trickled over the line before Cash could clear.

A scrappy goal that even the Reading players weren’t sure enough to celebrate but one that could prove costly to Forest’s promotion ambitions.

A point taken but very much two dropped, after the game Sabri Lamouchi reflected the feeling with a touch of realism stating ““I felt the stadium was disappointed, the dressing room was disappointed and the players were disappointed, but we have 18 games to play. The Championship is so tough, so long, so difficult so it is a very good point against a very good team, a very organised team.”

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Dawson, Worrall, Ribeiro, Watson, Sow (Carvalho 62), Lolley (Adomah 89), Silva, Ameobi, Grabban.

Reading: Cabral Barbosa, Gunter, Morrison, Moore, Blackett, Tuncara Gomes, Swift, Olise (Loader 90), Ejaria, Obita, Puskas (Baldock 78).

Venue: City Ground (26,840)

*Main image @NFFC Forest’s Samba Sow battles with George Puskas of Reading.