Nottingham Forest 2-1 Hull City (EFL Championship) 18.12.21

Nottingham Forest are up to seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table after a dramatic win over Hull City warmed the hearts of the precautionary but packed City Ground faithful on a cold and misty December day Trentside.

The Reds now have 30 points from 15 games under Steve Cooper and have lifted from the relegation zone to brink of the playoff picture and in coming back from a goal behind against Grant McCann’s men, they registered their third Championship win in succession and are now unbeaten in nine with just one defeat in sixteen.

Forest dominated the early stages of the first half without really testing the visitor’s goalkeeper, Lewis Grabban failing to divert a Jack Colback cross on target whilst a brilliant football move between Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence ended as the Forest attacker lashed wide of Baxter’s posts.

Worrall was next to strike wide before an injury to Osei-Tutu saw the Arsenal loanee replaced by Alex Mighten on 40 minutes. Three minutes later the Tigers took the lead against the run of play, as Lewis-Potter smashed home after good work by Sean McLoughlin.

In the second half, an early penalty call for Ryan Yates was waved away after the Reds midfielder went down inside the box from a corner but moments later, Alex Mighten was tripped in the area by Docherty with the Referee this time pointing to the spot. Lewis Grabban calmly netting for a tenth of the season.

Mighten had to go off with injury but Forest continued to press and after Lewis Grabban tested the palms of Baxter on 68, the home side finally took the lead on 72 minutes when Grabban raced down the wing to supply Brennan Johnson who did the rest.

As the Reds began to rest on their lead with the addition of Toby Figueiredo from the bench to bolster defence, Hull City pressed with a scramble in the area late on which ended in Docherty blazing over to the Reds fans relief before Elder headed straight at Samba with the goal gaping the last opportunity to pinch a point.

For long periods Forest were the better team but Hull gutsy, typically in the Championship, nothing is ever taken for granted, but one thing is becoming known to the rest of the division, and that is, this Nottingham Forest team are seriously in contention for pushing into the playoffs now, another victory for Steve Cooper who is fastly becoming a fans favourite so soon into his tenure.

The Reds playing front foot attacking football and scoring goals to win games is something these fans are starting to enjoy in getting used to. Next up a trip to Middlesbrough at the Riverside (covid-pending) on Boxing Day.

Happy Christmas Reds fans.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Spence, Worrall, McKenna, Osei-Tutu (Mighten 40 (Carvalho 56)), Yates, Garner, Colback, Johnson, Zinckernagel (Figueiredo 79), Grabban.

Hull City: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Lewis-Porter, Smallwood, Docherty, Longman (Elder 64), Honeyman, Magennis (Eaves 81), Wilks (Smith 64).

Venue: City Ground (26,513)

*Main image @NFFC Lewis Grabban was again on the scoresheet against Hull.