- Brennan Johnson scores late equaliser at Pride Park for deserved point
- Forest now undefeated in nine matches against rivals from down the A52
Forest made four changes from the starting line up last week at Stoke for the big East Midlands derby at Pride Park.
Jordan Gabriel replaced young Fin Back at right back, James Garner started his first league match since his return on loan from Manchester United at the expense of Jack Colback, Brennan Johnson replaced Alex Mighten, and Joe Worrall made a welcome return for his first match of the season and captained the side. Colback, Mighten and Tobias Figueiredo were on the bench, along with new loan signing Max Lowe.
It was an attacking line up from Reds manager Chris Hughton with both Johnson and Joao Carvalho joining Philip Zinckernagel in the three behind Lyle Taylor up front. It was Zinckernagel who threatened in just the third minute when his shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide for the first corner of the match to The Reds. From the corner, Carvalho then curled a shot wide.
Zinckernagel was then on the receiving end of a robust challenge by Craig Forsyth that left the Dane writhing in agony on the grass for a period. Despite the suggestion of both an elbow and a stamp, referee Tim Robinson waved play on until finally allowing treatment but no action against the left back.
Lyle Taylor then capitalised on a mishit back pass by Phil Jagielka but couldn’t clear Kelle Roos from 35 yards out with the goal open.
Despite Forest’s bright start it was Derby who took the lead after 11 minutes. A long cross ball by Forsyth found Tom Lawrence in space on the right and he struck the ball on the half volley past Brice Samba from 20 yards.
Four minutes later, Gabriel was adjudged to have fouled Louie Sibley but The Reds wall blocked Lawrence’s 25 yard free kick.
Forsyth was again lucky to escape the referee’s attention with a late challenge on Gabriel.
With 20 minutes gone, Derby forced their first corner after Ravel Morrison’s shot was blocked. From Graham Shinnie’s corner, Samba claimed and released Johnson who stride deep into Derby territory but Taylor’s header from Gabriel’s subsequent cross was easily gathered by Roos.
At the other end, Lawrence was fouled by Zinckernagel in a dangerous position on the left and after the free kick was cleared for a corner, Forsyth volleyed comfortably over the bar.
After 27 minutes, Gabriel made an important block after the ball ran loose to Forsyth in the box when Samba parried another Lawrence effort from outside the box.
After 34 minutes, James Garner became the first booking of the match when referee Robinson adjudged him to have illegally halted Max Bird’s run on halfway.
The Reds were starting to gain more possession but after neat build up play around the Forest box, Kamil Jozwiak was cautioned for a lunge on the Forest captain that could easily have merited sterner punishment.
Shortly afterwards, referee Robinson waved away Derby protests for handball against Worrall in the box which preceded a confrontation between players on both sides as tensions rose.
Just before the break, Johnson forced a corner but from Zinckernagel’s flag kick, Worrall’s free header at the far post was cleared by Derby as The Reds went into the break a goal down.
HT Derby 1-0 Forest
Manager Chris Hughton made a change at the break as Alex Mighten replaced Joao Carvalho and Brennan Johnson taking the #10 position.
The Reds were on the front foot from the kick off in the second half, attacking the end behind which their supporters were housed with Mighten causing early problems for the Derby defence. However, Derby then broke on the counter and Brice Samba was required to parry away a shot from 12 yards by Tom Lawrence.
After 51 minutes, Forest turned over play near the halfway to release Johnson who outpaced Curtis Davies but pulled his shot wide of Kelle Roos’ far post from the inside right position.
James Garner was now getting on the ball more often and he released Mighten on the hour mark but Nathan Byrne recovered to clear a promising situation for Forest.
Gaetan Bong then burst down the left and his cross intended for Lyle Taylor was hooked clear by Davies with the Forest forward waiting to pounce in the six yard box.
The Reds were now pushing Derby back but, just after the hour mark, Ravel Morrison shot at Samba from just outside the box.
Lawrence, who had been Derby’s primary threat, was then replaced by Jack Stretton midway through the half.
Forest then forced a corner after good work by Johnson and Philip Zinckernagel but The Rams cleared the danger again.
In the 69th minute, Lewis Grabban replaced Ryan Yates as and the forward moved into a position just off Taylor up front.
Three minutes later, Kamil Jozwiak curled a shot wide of Samba’s near post and, moments later, substitute Stretton nearly doubled The Rams advantage when he found space in the box but his goalbound shot was deflected just wide by Scott McKenna.
With 15 minutes to go, Forest very nearly got the equaliser they craved. Mighten’s cross was expertly flicked towards goal by Grabban but Roos’ scrambled across his line to claw the ball wide for a corner.
Mighten was then fouled by Byrne in the 80th minute as Forest broke and, with Forest still camped in The Rams final third, the ball broke to Johnson who smashed the ball home from 10 yards and wheeled away to celebrate in front of the 3,000 Forest supporters.
The Reds were then back on the attack and Louie Sibley was booked for cynical foul on Zinckernagel.
Into the final five minutes, substitute Lee Buchannan won a couple of corners for Derby on the left, before the referee indicated an additional four minutes of added time.
Derby were now pushing for a late winner with two more corners in injury time but The Reds held on retain The Brian Clough Trophy and make it nine matches undefeated against The Rams.
FT Derby 1-1 Forest
MATCH STATISTICS
Derby County (4-2-3-1): Kelle Roos; Craig Forsyth, Curtis Davies, Phil Jagielka, Nathan Byrne; Graham Shinnie, Max Bird; Kamil Jozwiak (Lee Buchanan 80’), Ravel Morrison, Louie Sibley: Tom Lawrence (c) (Jack Stretton 67’)
Substitutes not used: Ryan Allsop (GK), Richard Stearman, Louie Watson, Kornell McDonald, Dylan Williams
Goals: Lawrence (11’)
Bookings: Jozwiak (39’), Sibley (82’)
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Brice Samba; Gaetan Bong, Scott McKenna, Joe Worrall (c), Jordan Gabriel; Ryan Yates (Lewis Grabban 69’), James Garner; Brennan Johnson, Joao Carvalho (Alex Mighten 46’), Philip Zinckernagel; Lyle Taylor
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (GK), Tobias Figueiredo, Jack Colback, Max Lowe, Cafu
Goals: Johnson (81’)
Bookings: Garner (34’)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 22,991 (2,965)
Possession: 51%-49%
Shots: 13-13
Shots in target: 4-4
Corners: 8-4