Grabban grabs the lifeline for Forest
SLOPPY BORO LET IT SLIP
LEWIS Grabban rescued a point for Nottingham Forest with his first goal in seven games to keep them on course for the play-offs.
The striker will not mind that his 17th goal of the season was arguably his messiest, sticking a foot out to divert the ball past a startled Aynsley Pears after Joe Lolley’s deflected effort ballooned towards goal.
The shock of tumbling into the relegation zone had brought out the best in Boro, who looked on course for their first win since New Year’s Day, hitting back from a goal down to lead through Rudy Gestede and LewisWing.
But they remain in the bottom three after sloppy work allowed Grabban a late heartbreaker.
Gestede is hardly the most prolific marksman around but he cannot stop scoring against Forest.
He cancelled out Ryan Yates’ 29th-minute opener with his eighth goal against them – comfortably his best tally against any opponent.
The striker ended a Riverside drought stretching back two years with his second goal of the campaign, nodding home at the far post after Harold Moukoudi had headed on a Paddy McNair free-kick.
Whatever Boro’s fate this season, they have a hot prospect in Hayden Coulson, who was once again their shining light.
Moments after Forest broke the deadlock, he raced on to Gestede’s lay-off, forcing Brice Samba to tip his shot around the post. And the 21-year-old was the architect behind Boro’s second just before half-time, picking up Pears’ throw-out and charging upfield before laying off forWing.
Samba got a hand toWing’s shot but was unable to prevent the ball spinning into the net. It was quite a turnaround considering Boro’s woeful scoring record.
The visitors had gone ahead with Yates scoring against Boro for the second time this term, letting Sammy Ameobi’s pass roll across his body before picking his spot with a smart right-foot finish.
And then Forest had the last word when Grabban pounced.
BORO (4-2-3-1): Pears 5; Howson 6, Shotton 7, Moukoudi 6, Johnson 6; Clayton 7, McNair 6; Tavernier 6 (Spence 87), Wing 7 (Saville 81, 5), Coulson 8; Gestede 6.
Goals: Gestede 40, Wing 44.
FOREST (4-2-3-1): Samba 5; Cash 6, Figueiredo 7, Worrall 6, Ribeiro 6; Watson 6, Yates 7 (Bostock 78, 5); Lolley 6, Semedo 5 (Diakhaby 56, 6), Ameobi 6 (Carvalho 69, 5); Grabban 7. Goals: Yates 29, Grabban 86.
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