Millwall 2-2 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 06.12.19

Nottingham Forest came from behind to lead in stoppage time only to throw two points away at the Den as the Reds drew 2-2 in a thrilling Friday night football encounter.

Substitute Lewis Grabban was a two goal hero for Forest with his 88^th minute strike looking like the winning goal until Aiden O’Brien popped up in injury time with a leveller.

Forest made changes to the side that lost 1-0 against Cardiff playing three centre halves with the return of Michael Dawson whilst Alfa Semedo was back in the starting lineup with Rafa Mir in up front. Lolley, Carvalho & Grabban missing out as it seemed Lamouchi wanted to set up hard to beat.

That change to proceedings didn’t get off to a great start however as Millwall pressed from the off and after going close through Ben Thompson who headed over from a right wing centre they took the lead as Jed Wallace’s corner was met by Shaun Williams who headed in unmarked on fifteen.

Millwall were much the better of the two sides in the first half as Forest failed to mount any real attack, the home side might have had a second when Romeo forced Samba to save to his left before the two sides went in at the break.

Forest changed formation in the second half which had a positive effect on the away side who went close when Sammy Ameobi’s strike was well saved by former Notts County goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski in the Millwall goal.

Semedo shot wide from distance before Ameobi curled straight at the keeper and the addition of first Joe Lolley and then Lewis Grabban proved dividends when the clubs top goalscorer with his first touch netted from close range heading home from a yard out after good work by Joe Worrall following a Tiago Silva free kick into the box on 63 minutes.

Millwall should have retook the lead when Ben Thompson poked straight at Samba when it looked easier to score and it looked like Forest took full advantage with just two minutes of normal time left. The lively Grabban fed Ameobi who got to the bye line before playing it back to the in form striker to net his tenth league goal of the season and one that looked to be the winner.

Millwall however have been tough to beat under Gary Rowett and that proved to be the case again as they stretched their own record to five unbeaten in the dying seconds of stoppage time as a long range effort by Williams seemed to catch Samba out only punching to Aiden O’Brien who smashed home from close range. An entertaining game at the Den and one which Forest might have been happy to take a point from pre-match but one that frustrates the reds in coming so close to victory.

Manager Sabri Lamouchi said after that honours even was probably the fairest result stating “Obviously the second half was much better, defensively and offensively and the attitude was totally different. We created a lot and Millwall won the first half after a corner and we won the second one with two goals.

“We should keep the result two minutes before the end but I think the goal was fair because they could have scored before that, and we could have scored as well, so a draw was logical.”

Striker Lewis Grabban after returning to his old club with a couple of goals said “It was good to score and come on and make an impact. I think it gave us a bit more belief and we were able to perform better in the second half as the first half we weren’t at our best. We just have to do better in the next game.”

“It was good for myself personally but we were disappointed as a team.”

Millwall: Bialkowski, Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, M Wallace, J Wallace, Molumby, Williams, Skalak (O’Brien 78), Thompson (Mahoney 83), Smith (Bradshaw 61).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Figueiredo (Lolley 57), Dawson, Worrall, Robinson, Watson, Silva, Semedo (Adomah 80), Ameobi, Mir (Grabban 63).

Venue: The Den (12,976)

*Main image @NFFC the Forest players applaud the fantastic support from the away fans again.