Derby County 1-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 28.08.21

Nottingham Forest secured their first point of the season after Brennan Johnson scored his first Forest goal against East Midlands rivals Derby County.

The home side had much the better of the first half and took the lead when Craig Forsyth’s Cross field pass found Tom Lawrence who volleyed home emphatically past Brice Samba on just eleven minutes.

Forest had earlier an opportunity through Lyle Taylor when a miss-placed back pass fell to the Montserrat international although the former Charlton man couldn’t hit over Roos in the Rams goal.

Derby were slick in the first half but created their next best opportunity early in the second when Lawrence again, a real pain in his first game back since returning from injury, would cut inside to shoot well blocked by Samba.

As Reds Manager Chris Hughton, under pressure to play with more attacking intent, by fans, chased the game with more forward thinking substitutions, the introduction of Lewis Grabban as an extra striker midway through the second half lead to the away side having their best spell of the game, Grabban going close flicking a Mighten cross at goal which was brilliantly saved by the Derby goalkeeper, before Brennan Johnson volleyed home at the back post from Gaeten Bong’s cross, the ball slipping under Roos for an 81^st minute equaliser.

That draw leaves Forest still bottom of the table but having retained the Brian Clough Trophy with a first point of the season, things are looking up for Manager Chris Hughton who may now go into the international break with the confidence that his job should be safe for a few more weeks yet.

An improved performance by Forest, their second half fight back capped with the return of captain Joe Worrall who was magnificent, helping the team to a worthy draw at Pride Park, next up is Cardiff at the City Ground on 12^th September, a bogey side of sorts, a win however would provide fans with more confidence that the club are not as bad as their current league position suggests.

Derby County: Roos, Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Forsyth, Bird, Shinnie, Jozwiak (Buchanan 81), Morrison, Sibley, Lawrence (Stretton 67).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Gabriel, Worrall, McKenna, Bong, Yates (Grabban 69), Garner, Johnson, Carvalho (Mighten 46), Zinckernagel, Taylor.

Venue: Pride Park (22,991)

*Main image @NFFC Brennan Johnson’s first competitive goal for the club.