Nottingham Forest 1-4 Stoke City (EFL Championship) 22.07.20

‘Football, Bloody Hell’ once said a famous Manager after clinching the most dramatic and unbelievable victories as his side bounced back from the death. Ironically back in 1999 when Manchester United beat Bayern Munich in stoppage time to lift the European Champions Cup, Forest were bottom and on their way out of the Premier League… They are yet to return.

Last night at the City Ground they needed just a point to make the Playoffs, on Sunday verses Barnsley they needed just a point to make the playoffs. 25/1 they were to drop out of the playoff zone, the bookies had them nailed on certs to finish the job, the Reds had been comfortable playoffs ever since March.

But Football is a ‘funny old game’ and last night was never going to be easy… In fact for Forest fans it was probably one of the worst nights drama in their recent Championship history.

It was all going nicely until 17 minutes in, nil-nil at the City Ground v Stoke, it was Swansea, who needed to overturn an improbable five goal swing who scored in their game at Reading to lead 1-0. Just as that happened Forest conceded when Danny Batth scored for the visitors after heading home from a neat set play and in the other game sixth placed Cardiff, level on points with the Reds would take the lead against bottom of the table Hull.

On 34 minutes Cardiff made it 2-0 to ensure their match would never be in doubt, it was all about Nottingham Forest and Swansea to see who ‘wanted’ the final playoff place more. Forest pressed for an equaliser at the City Ground as news came in of a red card at Reading. Meite sent off for the hosts with the Swans now having a man advantage. Is it really going to be one of those nights?

No, was the answer as Reading struck back. Puskas scored from the penalty spot and Reds fans celebrated in their armchairs, laptops on with ifollow and Jeff Sterling on the main TV… Stay calm Red dogs… Stay calm.

At Half Time Forest were in the driving seat, Swansea needed two more and Forest needed to concede at least two more for things to change… Surely that wouldn’t happen?

The Reds came out confident in the second half and pressed for the equaliser, just past the hour it came, Toby Figueiredo left unmarked nodding home an in-swinging corner from Joe Lolley… 1-1… Playoffs here we come.

Soon after the Swans edged in the lead at Reading but it did not matter as the Reds were taking care of business… That was… Until 73 minutes into the game at the City Ground Josh Tyman was left unmarkarked, his cross shot tapped home by James McLean who looked a yard offside. Forest vented frustration to no avial, the goal stood, one more goal for Stoke and one more goal for Swansea and it would be the Welsh side in the playoffs.

Five minutes later at the City Ground, the unthinkable did happen. This time McClean turned provider crossing low for Gregory to tap home, Forest were getting a home thumping and news at the Madejski Stadium was that Swansea now needed just one goal.

That goal soon came as Cullen made it 3-1 as Swansea for the first time in the night sat in a playoff position… Impetus now on Forest to go get a goal and save their season.

The Reds pushed, as they did news broke that Swansea had scored again, now deflated everything and the kitchen sink was thrown at Stoke hopelessly as the away side cleared and broke with McClean sprinting away towards goal deep into injury time, as he slid the ball across the six yard box running back to sprint as fast as he could, to help his team in desperation, to stop another going in, was Nuno da Costa who out-stretched a foot and slid the ball into his own net. His first goal in a Forest shirt. It summed up his season, it summed up his night, it summed up Nottingham Forest and the disaster that had unthinkably happened.

Cardiff did the business against Hull in the other game with a third goal to comfortably finish fifth, Swansea did their business in Reading to deservedly claim a playoff spot. Forest simply didn’t do the business when it was all in their own hands.

It’s still the highest the club has finished in nine years, but that will be little reward knowing the team ‘should’ have made the playoffs as far back as SIX games ago.

Derby fans will probably say thank you to Chris Martin, because ever-since that goal Nottingham Forest have not been the same side after losing three and drawing three of their final six games, it certainly wasn’t playoff form and in the end they simply weren’t good enough. Attention now will draw towards the blame as fans will rightly ask ‘how and why’ it all went wrong.

Nottingham Forest: Smith, Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro (Mighten 90), Watson, Sow (Silva 24), Yates (Da Costa 80), Ameobi, Lolley, Grabban.

Stoke City: Davies, Chester, Batth, Martins Indi, Smith, Cousins, Thompson (Sorensen 62), McClean, Oakley-Boothe (Tymon 71), Vokes (Campbell 72), Gregory (Ince 82).

Venue: City Ground

*Main image @NFFC Ryan Yates in action as Forest fail to reach the playoffs