Frustrating night for Hughton as Forest fall short
NOTTINGHAM Forest saw their unbeaten run come grinding to a halt as Middlesbrough continued their push for the Championship’s top six with a 2-1 win at the City Ground on Wednesday night.
Britt Assombalonga, sold by Forest to Boro for £15m in 2017, scored the opener and George Saville finished off a rapid counter-attack after the break.
Marc Bola then hit the bar with a fierce drive as Boro pushed for a third.
But Loic Mbe Soh scored in stoppage time with Forest’s only shot on target in the entire game when he headed in a cross from fellow substitute Joe Lolley.
Forest boss Chris Hughton had plenty to say after the game as Ryan Yates also had to limp off through injury.
Here’s everything he said on that blow, whether it changes his transfer plans and much more.
■■What was your verdict on the performance?
We never really got going against a team that play a certain way. They play man for man all over the park.
We needed to impose ourselves more on them, which we weren’t able to do.
And if you can’t do that, then what you’ve got to be is resolute at the back and for for a team like us that have been solid and haven’t looked like conceding, I thought we conceded two really poor goals.
■■It was a slow start, wasn’t it?
They play a certain way and what you’ve got to have is you’ve got to have runners to stretch the play.
And we didn’t run behind enough. We were up against a side that are quite happy if you’re playing the game in our own half.
And sometimes you have got to stretch them for the sake of it.
And that gets the ball further up the park and it might be throw-ins in the final third and then you’re able to gather a little bit of momentum.
But we never did that well enough. Most of what we wanted to do was ball to feet and I though they capitalised on it.
■■What was the verdict on the goals you conceded?
With the form that we’ve that we’ve been in, and the defensive form that we’ve been in, it’s not like us.
That’s probably the most disappointing aspect.
I think as the game opens up the second one can happen. I think we’ve thrown some bodies forward, but we have still got to do better.
But I think that the timing of the first one didn’t allow us to get into a rhythm in the game and at least get to half-time at 0-0, assess it and then look to push forward from there. So I am really disappointed with the goals.
The timing of both went against us but I can’t say that we were the better side.
I can’t say we deserved to get a result from the game.
I thought we were up against a good team. They (Boro) play to their strengths but they’ve got quality in the side. And I thought at the moments that they needed to I thought they showed that.
■■Was it frustrating you couldn’t get out of your own half after you scored?
It was very frustrating. When Anthony (Knockaert) comes deep to pick up the ball, you really want him
far higher up the pitch to give us an opportunity.
At that stage we’d pushed a lot of bodies forward. Scott Mckenna is playing as a centre forward.
But if I’m in Middlesbrough’s shoes, I’m doing exactly what they do.
They’re biding their time, wasting as much time and keeping the ball in in the corner.
That’s managing the game, and they managed it very well.
■■What happened to Ryan Yates?
I don’t know yet. I think it is possibly his calf. I shall find out.
But at the time it didn’t look good. As we know with with Ryan, he’s a tough individual. So we’ll assess that one. And I’m hoping it’s not too bad.
■■Is that centre of midfield jinxed for you?
If I’m looking at where we are as regards bodies, then we’re having to put a centre-half on as a sub in that central midfield position because of the numbers that we’ve got.
We’re hoping it’s not too bad. But we’ll wait and see.