Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship) 09.02.22

Nottingham Forest are up to sixth in the Championship and are in the playoff zone for the first time this season after a brilliant performance at Blackburn Rovers which knocked Tony Mowbray’s flyers out of the top two.

The Reds almost went behind on thirteen when a quick free kick found Buckley unmarked in the area, his shot low was saved by the feet of Samba before falling to Brereton from an angle with the ex-Red’s effort blocked by McKenna on the line.

Forest themselves taking the lead on 23 minutes after brilliant feet by Keinan Davis on the half way line helped the Aston Villa loanee evade three markers, his powerful run then looked to have been stopped by the challenge of Zeefuik but after initially falling over under pressure, Davis picked himself up to play in James Garner who feinted to shoot and cut inside a diving defender before dispatching a cool finish for the games opener.

The first half was competitive and Forest defended well under pressure, Brereton heading straight at Samba the only real chance for the home side to shout about.

Forest’s night was made easier just eight minutes after half time when Darragh Lenihan recklessly left his foot in on the half way line to earn a second booking of the night. The Irishman sent off for a challenge on Colback.

The extra-man advantage meant it was Forest who had the best chances in the second half. Brennan Johnson on the break shot low which was saved by Kaminsky with substitute Sam Surridge lapsing on to the rebound and firing in across goal just millimetres from the feet of Garner.

In the final minute though, neat work by Surridge saw him race into the box and go down under a challenge of van Hecke. Brennan Johnson then stepped up to fire home the penalty and send the Reds travelling army into raptures.

Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper saying after “It was a tough game but we deserved to win. They were second in the league, have one of the top goalscorers, and they’re at home. We had to roll our sleeves up and deal with it and we did.”

Blackburn Rovers: Kaminski, Lenihan, van Hecke, Wharton, Zeefuik (Hedges 83), Travis, Rothwell, Giles; Buckley (Gallagher 54); Khadra (Dolan 58), Brereton-Díaz.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Colback, Lowe, Garner, Johnson (Silva 90), Davis (Surridge 69).

Venue: Ewood Park

*Main image @NFFC Brennan Johnson fires home a penalty to secure the three points.