Hughton’s safe but he’s far from happy

CHRIS HUGHTON was hardly shouting from the rooftops despite seeing Nottingham Forest make certain of their Championship status for next season.

This draw, along with defeat for local rivals Derby, was enough for Hughton to complete the job he was brought in for back in October.

But he does not believe it is any cause for celebration.

“I’m disappointed that we haven’t won today,” said the City Ground chief.

“I’m pleased that in a very competitive division and a very competitive season we’ve had a good enough spell in the last few months to put us in this position.

“But overall I’m disappointed we’re not higher up the table.”

The biggest reason for that has been a lack of goals and captain Lewis Grabban gave the perfect example with a bad early miss.

Harry Souttar’s mistake put him through but Grabban screwed badly wide of the near post.

And his team were made to pay when

Stoke took the lead in the 27th minute.

Josh Tymon charged down the left and played in Rabbi Matondo, charging through the middle.

The Wales international got enough on Tymon’s cross to get it past Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba for his first goal for Stoke.

But the home side levelled five minutes after the interval with Grabban making up for his first-half miss.

Two Stoke defenders failed to clear sub Anthony Knockaert’s cross and he stabbed home from five yards.

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill said: “I was pleased and it’s good we’re disappointed we didn’t take three points.”

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Samba 6; Christie 6, Worrall 6, McKenna 6, Ribeiro 6; Yates 6, Garner 6; Freeman

4 (Knockaert (37th) 7), Cafu 5 (Mighten

(69th) 4), Krovinovic 6; Grabban 7

STOKE: Davies 6; Smith 5, Batth 5, Souttar 6, Norrington-Davies 6; Mikel

6; Matondo 8 (Vokes 90th), Clucas

6, Thompson 6, Tymon 6; Fletcher 5 (Brown (60th) 6)

STAR MAN: Rabbi Matondo

REF: A Davies