Fans of Nottingham Forest were left feeling relieved, but frustrated after a 2-2 home draw with Brentford on Saturday, a game which was highlighted prior to the match as ‘must win’ by many supporters, in the end finished just as importantly that the Reds didn’t lose, but beyond the Refereeing decisions that went against the club in an entertaining but incident packed match which ended thankfully with a fortuitous injury time leveller, the same defensive lapses are continuing to cost Steve Cooper’s men too many times at the City Ground this season.

In matches against Bournemouth, Fulham, Aston Villa and now Brentford, the Reds have led only to be pegged back, taking just two points from those four matches, teams who themselves are battling the drop, some better than others, all better than the bottom placed Reds thus far.

The defensive issues have not been helped by injuries to recently signed players, Moussa Niakhate has been a huge loss after showing early promise in particular in the clubs first home win against West Ham United where he kept the physical former Forest man Mikel Antonio quiet, the Reds have generally fared better in the goals against column when Harry Toffolo has played than they have without him, the former Huddersfield Town left back suffering with a thigh injury of late. Former Reading & Bayern Munich wing back Omar Richards is yet to kick a ball in garibaldi, whilst Giulian Biancone is now out all season with an ACL injury suffered in training.

On Saturday, complaints were towards the Referee Andre Mariner with Reds boss heard saying aloud after Zanka’s late own goal “It should be 2-1” whilst Morgan Gibbs-White may get in trouble after stating after the match he felt ‘cheated’ by the officials display, as Forest conceded a tame penalty after goalkeeper Dean Henderson was adjudged to have flicked the heels of Yoane Wissa for the Bees leveller on half time, the Reds were also denied on a couple of occasions a look by VAR for their own spot kick claims. One on Emmanuel Dennis shown what looked like more contact than Henderson gave Wissa, to two very different outcomes.

But despite the disappointing decisions that goes uncontrollably against them, the same issues that have appeared in matches against opposition with pace this season, again appeared on Saturday, two well-timed but straight passes in the centre of the park, cutting through the Nottingham Forest centre back pairing of Steve Cook and Scott McKenna like butter, twice Yoane Wissa through on goal, the first attempt halted by Henderson who brought the Congolese attacker down, for a penalty converted by Bryan Mbuemo, a carbon copy in the second half resulting in Wissa giving Brentford a 75th minute lead, the defensive duo at fault on both occasions.

Forest have now conceded 30 goals this season which is only worsened by Bournemouth thanks largely to a 9-0 loss at Anfield earlier in the campaign, the Cherries have conceded 32, but have scored five more than Forest who have ten, three points clear of the Reds in the safety seats of seventeenth in the table.

The Reds bottom with ten points are thankfully not yet cut adrift, still fighting, and showing plenty of determination to succeed in their ambition to stay up, in particular at home where they have often attacked their opposition, their next match against Crystal Palace however, is against a side set up to play on the counter attack, who have threatening pace in numbers, something of which Forest have not dealt with very well this season.

Before that, the Reds host Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, the match offering a chance for those on the fringes to shine, a one off away from the stresses of vital league points, a much changed side expected with the result hardly important in the grand scheme of things, Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Lewis O’Brien, Oriel Mangala, all predicted to be given much needed game time.

The Tottenham test will be a game where those who do well can claim a real chance for selection against Crystal Palace, which now becomes even more important than it would have been, had Forest beat Brentford on Saturday.

An unlikely win against a side sitting mid table will be best possible outcome for Forest to sign off their first half of the Premier League season before the World Cup break commences, a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world with the likes of Wolves, Southampton and Bournemouth all having their own managerial issues of late, but a defeat will cast Forest astray at the foot, with a long six weeks or more until their next fixtures at Christmas, when they travel to Old Trafford, day after Boxing Day before hosting Chelsea on New Years Day.

The result on Saturday will potentially provide confidence and optimism, should it go the Reds way, if not, it could be a long painful month ahead of looking back at if’s buts and maybes as to why the Reds are in this position, something they won’t be able to rectify until Christmas has passed.

*Main image @NFFC a late own goal earned Forest a point against Brentford.