Hughton’s safety plea

CHRIS HUGHTON wants his Nottingham Forest side to kill off any threat of relegation once and for all.

The Reds are 10 points clear of the drop zone and look virtually safe.

But Hughton wants the job nailed down with no late scares with three of Forest’s last five games against sides below them, starting with the visit of Huddersfield today.

A four-match unbeaten run has helped a feeling of calm.

But Hughton said: “Everybody is fighting. It’s very, very competitive, which is why we cannot afford to start thinking our season is more or less over.

“All of the teams around us and below us are capable of picking up points. We’re playing Huddersfield and Birmingham in our next two games, and they will both be desperate for points.

“We have to continue fighting and try and get as many points as we can, because it’s very, very competitive.”

DERBY remain deep in relegation trouble after they chucked the lead away at Ewood Park.

Tom Lawrence headed the Rams in front in the 22nd minute after they had soaked up early pressure.

But they were pegged back three minutes before the break after Sam Gallagher pounced from a corner.

David Marshall made three key saves to keep out Blackburn’s top scorer Adam Armstrong at the start of the second half.

But he was unable to produce more magic as Harvey Elliott fired Tony Mowbray’s men ahead in the 66th minute. It leaves Derby four points ahead of Rotherham with the Millers having three games in hand.

They were second-best from the start as Elliott curled the first chance of the game over from distance.

Marshall beat away a curling Armstrong free-kick in the 20th minute as the hosts continued to push.

Against the run of play, Lawrence headed Wayne Rooney’s side in front after Graeme Shinnie picked him out two minutes later.

Patrick Roberts curled wide after he cut inside in the 37th minute as the visitors gained a foothold.

But they were hit with a sucker-punch when Gallagher levelled for Rovers after heading home a Barry Douglas corner. It got worse after the break as Elliott’s powerful shot was too much for Marshall.

The on-loan Liverpool star marked his goal by taking off his shirt to reveal a tribute to the victims of Hillsborough 32 years ago.