West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 26.11.21

In horrible conditions in the West Midlands, Nottingham Forest frustrated promotion chasing West Brom at the Hawthorns last night as for the second time in four days the Reds played out a goalless game which ended with a sending off.

After the 0-0 draw against Luton Town on Tuesday night in which Jack Colback was sent off and Brice Samba saved a penalty for the Reds, on Friday it was the Baggies who were reduced to ten men late on as Molumby was given a second yellow card for a reckless lunge on Joe Lolley in midfield.

In the first half, home chances went begging when Samba saved smartly to his left to deny Diangana, Robinson then blazed over from eleven yards after the ball was pulled back to him whilst at the other end Sam Johnstone was largely untroubled in the home team goal.

After the break Joe Worrall blocked well from Robinson as he raced through on goal before Brennan Johnson’s deflected shot nearly eluded Johnstone who did well to tip over the bar, substitute Hugill then wasted the home team’s best effort, blazing over from inside the area after showing good feet to elude the persistence of Worrall after a free kick was knocked down into his path.

The Reds although lacking some of that attacking quality shown under Steve Cooper of late, defended well and were certainly worthy of a point against strong opposition as they now go unbeaten in six with just one defeat now in thirteen.

Cooper though may be concerned about the number of draws in that run of which there are five in the last half dozen matches, the Reds Head Coach saying after he “Thought we were average at best, particularly in the first half, we’ve got to play with more belief, got to play with more intensity, make more passes, and take the game to our opponents.”

Cooper followed “Second half we were a lot better, played a lot higher up the pitch, played in their half more, made some good passes, looked a bit more threatening, but I’m slightly disappointed really”.

Next up for Forest is a home match at the City Ground against Peterborough on Saturday 4^th December.

West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone, Kipre, Bartley, Clarke, Furlong, Molumby, Mowatt, Townsend, Diangana (Phillips 60), Grant (Hugill 79), Robinson (Reach 72).

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Worrall, Figueiredo (Mighten 72), McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Bong, Johnson, Zinckernagel (Lolley 66), Grabban.

Venue: The Hawthorns

*Main image @NFFC the Forest players and staff applaud their travelling fans.