Bent: Forsyth lucky not to be shown red
CRAIG Forsyth was lucky not to be sent off in Derby County’s draw with Nottingham Forest, according to his former Rams team-mate Darren Bent.
Forsyth escaped without punishment following a challenge on Forest’s Philip Zinckernagel during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium in the Championship.
Tom Lawrence had given the Rams an 11th-minute lead but
Bent, who scored 12 goals in 58 appearances during his time with Derby, reckons his former team should have been down to 10 men by that point.
“It’s a red card,” said Bent, who was a Sky Sports pundit for the game.
“It’s surprising as Craig Forsyth isn’t like that normally.
“He got lucky there because even when you look at in real speed, the intent is there and he’s gone down with a bit of a stamp. “Fortunately, VAR is not in the Championship because I think if it was then he would have got a red card.”
A first point on the board for the season left Forest boss Chris Hughton “feeling better”. Asked if it was a result which eased the pressure on him, Hughton said: “It’s never something I think of. I only think of results.
“I’m feeling better at this moment, because we have got a result that I think we deserved.
“It’s not the win we wanted and it doesn’t change the league table or the perception of the season so far dramatically.
“But it is a better feel for us than what it would be for Derby going into this international break.” Hughton’s men were under siege for much of the remainder of the first half after falling behind but did improve after the break.
And they fought back to earn a draw when Brennan Johnson finished off Gaetan Bong’s cross eight minutes from time.
“In three of our four games before this, the margins could have gone either way,” said Hughton.
“So when they scored, you think, ‘it isn’t going to be our day again’. “But the players dug deep. “It’s always nicer if you’re the team who has come back, because the feeling is a little bit different. “I thought we deserved it.
“It was a game of two halves and not many clear-cut chances. We didn’t get into as many good areas as I would have liked but it was that type of game.
“It was a very good atmosphere, which is testament to both sets of supporters.
“Overall, I think it was the correct result – and one I hope we can build on.”