Reading 1-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 11.01.20

Nottingham Forest came within a whisker of winning at Reading as a late Ben Watson goal looked to have sent the Reds back to the City Ground with all three points.

Deep in stoppage time Watson volleyed home what looked to be a winner but from the kick off Reading went up the other end and Tobias Figueirdo deflected home a right wing cross into his own net to tie the match in the closing seconds.

In a tightly contested first half there wasn’t much between the two teams as Forest created half chances before the best opportunity of the match fell to Meite who couldn’t beat Samba at the near post after Ejara robbed Grabban to put the Ivorian through.

In the second half the Royals came out strong creating an opening down the left just two minutes in but as Samba was alert and Forest cleared the ball fell to Grabban who chased down from the half way line and ran through to be pushed wide by Rafael in goal. As Grabban checked back his curling effort chipped over the keeper was cleared easily off the line.

Less than five minutes later it was the homesides turn to attack as Tyler Blackett cut in to shoot against the post and on the hour Brice Samba was tested by Michael Morrison making a close range save from a corner.

As the game looked to filter out into a goalless draw a last chance attempt on 96 minutes with a late Forest corner half cleared was hooked back in to play by Worrall for Ben Watson to volley twelve yards out left footed rifled into the bottom corner to give what looked to be Forest the win.

However celebrations were cut short as from the kick off Reading went down the left where they were effective all game and as Blackett centred in vein Figueirdo stretched out a foot and the ball flicked into Samba’s near post for a soft equaliser.

After the game goalscorer Ben Watson stated “We are disappointed, but it doesn’t feel like a defeat. We’ve come here to the form team in the league and we have dominated the first half but couldn’t get the goal, then in the second half they have put us under a bit of pressure but we defended well.

“At the end, it was nice to get the goal but then again I don’t think it was a corner and the ball went out and there was probably a handball. Things happen for a reason, the boys are disappointed but we’ll take the positives.”

Reading: Cabral Barbosa, Gunter, Morrison, Moore, Blackett, Tunkara Gomes, Adam (Obita 76), Meite, Swift, Ejaria (Rinomhota 80), Baldock (Puskas 63).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Chema (Jenkinson 88), Ribeiro (Yates 69), Sow, Watson, Silva (Lolley 69), Ameobi, Grabban.

Venue: Madejski Stadium (16,602)

*Main image @NFFC Samba Sow applauds the Forest fans after the match.