Rotherham United 0-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 23.02.21

A huge win for Nottingham Forest see’s Chris Hughton’s reds go ten points clear of the drop zone thanks to a Ryan Yates goal in the second half in South Yorkshire and yet another display of solid defending from a team well-drilled that has conceded just once in the last five matches.

It was a first win since 2002 for Forest in Rotherham and the three points takes the tricky trees to fifteenth in the table ahead of their trip to Derby (who beat Huddersfield tonight) on Friday.

The home side made it difficult from the start against the boys in blue as a long throw in was headed inches over by Ihiekwe on just four minutes, the first real opportunity of the game.

Shortly after the Reds might have had a penalty when Freeman went down and were close to opening the score when Yates couldn’t divert Krovinovic’s volley into the net.

Christie shot wide on 27 before Murray had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour, heading home from Bong’s delivery as the flag went up from the Referees Assistant to halt the Forest players celebrations in their tracks.

In the second half, Murray was this time denied by Johansson in the Millers goal as again the flag went up before Knockaert tried his luck on 65, curling towards the corner with the Swede equal to it in keeping out of the net.

Johansson however could do nothing about Yates giving Forest the lead two minutes later, a free kick was looped up into the air off a defensive header and as Figueiredo wrestled the Rotherham defenders the ball fell kindly to Ryan Yates who smashed home hard and low to give what in the end would be all three points to the team wearing blue.

As Forest sat back and defended their lead (as they did against Blackburn), the home side had their best spell of possession soaked up magnificently by Worrall and co whilst Taylor broke late on, the substitute doing brilliantly only to shoot wide of the target when it looked certain he would score.

In the last minute, more pressure from the home side lead to Rotherham hitting the bar, a header and a goalmouth scramble with luck, on the side of Chris Hughton as it was on Saturday, this time a win better deserved on the night, and one that will boost confidence ahead of the big derby in less than 72 hours time.

Rotherham United: Johansson, Ihiekwe, MacDonald, Robertson, Olosunde (Ladapo 66), Wing, Barlaser (Giles 80), Wiles (Sadlier 80), Harding, Crooks, Smith.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Christie, Figueiredo, Worrall, Bong, Yates, Cafu, Knockaert (Blackett 87), Krovinovic, Freeman (Lolley 66), Murray (Taylor 75).

Venue: New York Stadium

*Main image @NFFC Ryan Yates the match winner as Forest win at the New York for the first time.