Derby County 1-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 04.07.20

On reflection, a point wasn’t a bad result at Pride Park but Nottingham Forest had the game won against their bitter East Midland Rivals Derby County before throwing it away deep into stoppage time as the match eventually ended in a draw.

It was a bright first quarter for Forest who enjoyed the better of the opening stages with Nuno Da Costa trying his luck from range on his first starting appearance for the club. High and wide his strike at least signalled intent and the Reds continued to press before Joe Lolley struck from similar distance this time with maximum effect.

Lolley cut in from the right and 25 yards out left footed he drilled low a daisy cutter into the far corner that bounced past Ben Hamer’s outstretched right hand. Should the keeper have done better? It was a sign that Derby weren’t quite at the races in the opening fifteen minutes.

The Rams slowly picked up their pace as a long ball on 18 found the handful striker Chris Martin who nodded down to Sibley who couldn’t strike on target, Forest defended well to null any real opportunities on Brice Samba’s goal and on the half hour another half chance went begging when Martin headed over under pressure following a right wing cross. Samba himself got away with one on 35 as he pushed out a low left-wing centre by Forsyth back in to danger only for it luckily to fall to a Forest player and be cleared. Worrall blocked from Sibley as the first half wore on before Cash swung in a free kick from the left at the other end which Hamer punched away unconvincingly.

In the second half the games pattern continued with Derby very much pressing for an equaliser, Forest happy to concede possession as they got men behind the ball, an early chance for the Rams on 55 when a long Bogle throw in was half cleared and as he chipped back in Forest managed to clear as Ryan Yates took a knock midst the chaos.

Forest brought on Sammy Ameobi and Tiago Silva on the hour as Derby created their best chance of the half when Bogle slashed wide under pressure from Watson. The Forest skipper himself went close moments later when he volleyed a long-range drive low which was well saved by Hamer where from the resulting corner Lolley had a similar opportunity driving low and hard left footed only for Hamer to again tip around the posts.

That spell lead Derby to make changes and on 70 minutes a reverse pass by Sibley may have caused more trouble than just a corner kick but from the resulting set play Forest broke as Lolley played to Ameobi who found Grabban who couldn’t adjust his feet enough to shoot on target. Grabban firing wide when he might have done better.

On 74 minutes another chance for Forest went begging as they broke with Grabban playing in Tiago Silva who hit his shot against the post and at the other end Derby had their best opportunity to level when Samba spilled and Martin turned and shot straight back at the Frenchman in the Reds goal.

Grabban then blazed over on 77 when he should of hit the target and with ten minutes remaining Waghorn crossed for Martin who couldn’t prod goalwards.

In the closing minutes Tiago robbed Shinny and sent substitute Mighten through who couldn’t chip over the on rushing goalkeeper when he looked certain to score and there was a third sending off for Forest opponents in as many games as Waghorn caught Yates to receive a straight red card.

As the match looked to be destined for Reds victory Joe Worrall kicked out at Max Lowe off the ball which lead to a Derby County free kick despite Forest being in possession, as Rooney launched in his sides last attempt Samba spilled under pressure and the ball bounced to the head of Martin who headed a foot over the line to give the Rams an unlikely point.

Huge disappointment for Forest from the position they were in, huge relief for Derby with two points dropped in the Reds run for promotion it might yet become even more costly should the two sides meet again in the playoffs.

Derby County: Hamer, Bogle, Evans, Clarke, Forsyth (Lowe 81), Rooney, Bird (Whittaker 89), Holmes (Jozefzoon 66), Sibley (Shinnie 82), Knight (Waghorn 66), Martin.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro, Watson, Yates, Sow (Silva 60), Lolley (Diakhaby 77), Da Costa (Ameobi 60), Grabban (Mighten 89).

Venue: Pride Park

*Main image @NFFC Lewis Grabban in action at Pride Park as Forest throw two points away.