A case of Murphy’s law pegs back Monk
SUPERSUB Joe Lolley had boyhood club Birmingham licked to drag Forest out of the mire.
Ex-Brum academy scholar Lolley volleyed home just seconds after his arrival to halve the 2-0 deficit.
Then his shot, saved by Lee Camp, was turned home by Daryl Murphy to rescue a point for Aitor Karanka’s side.
Looking to secure their first win of the season, Garry Monk’s men created the first two chances then scored from their third as they dominated the first half.
City took a deserved lead in the 21st minute. Lukas Jutkiewicz planted a looping header over keeper Costel Pantilimon after Jacques Maghoma cut out a crossfield pass from Ben Watson and drove at the defence before crossing.
Jutkiewicz’s first goal of the season was Brum’s first in
291 minutes, going back to the opening day when Viv Solomon-Otabor scored against Norwich.
Karanka’s side could barely get the ball out of their own half as they were regularly hassled out of their stride by hard-working Birmingham, with Jota pulling the strings out wide.
Forest finally produced a move to get their fans on their feet just before the hour mark.
Matty Cash won the ball deep inside his own half and burst forward, swapping passes with sub Joao Carvalho only to see his goalbound drive blocked by Michael Morrison.
City doubled their lead when sub Che Adams turned sharply just inside the penalty area and drilled low into the bottom corner in the
73rd minute.
But their lead was halved as Forest reduced the deficit two minutes later.
Just seconds after coming on, Lolley announced his arrival in spectacular fashion when he smashed a volley that flashed inside Camp’s near post after Jutkiewicz headed away a free-kick.
Then Lolley turned creator as his shot was palmed away by Camp and Murphy buried the rebound from a narrow angle to seal a magnificent late comeback.