FOREST PAY FOR MISSED CHANCES
CHRIS Hughton was left frustrated at Nottingham Forest’s failure to capitalise on “pivotal moments” as they drew 0-0 with Barnsley.
The Reds have struggled in attack this season and their troubles continued as they were unable to make the most of good chances at the City Ground.
Lewis Grabban and Sammy Ameobi spurned the hosts’ best opportunities in the first half, while Anthony Knockaert went close after the break.
It made it three games without a win for Forest, on the back of successive defeats in the League and FA Cup, and leaves them still perilously placed in the Championship table.
“They were clear chances. In any game there are going to be a percentage of chances and you just hope they are clear ones,” said Hughton.
“I thought we got the ball into some good areas where we could have capitalised a bit more.
“You are waiting for those clear chances and you either put them away or you don’t.
“What I will give the team credit for is, those chances were both in the first half period and heads could have dropped, but they didn’t.
“You couldn’t afford to do that against a team as direct and physical as Barnsley. They are just waiting for that moment of lack of concentration.
“Thankfully, we managed to keep that for 90 minutes. But there is frustration at not putting those chances away.”
The Reds boss was pleased with a clean sheet against the Tykes, but knows his team must offer more going forward.
They now find themselves one place above the relegation zone.
“It was a tough game against a very direct team who have a lot of physicality,” said Hughton.
“First and foremost, you have to match that.
“From a defensive aspect, I thought we did well to limit them to minimal half-chances.
“But we had the clear moments. That is the frustration, that you battle as hard as we did and defensively were good, then when those pivotal moments came along we weren’t able to capitalise on them.
“You can’t say it was through lack of effort, but it was a little bit frustrating.
“They had a particularly strong wind in the second half, which meant everything which went long from them, went further.
“I think you’ve got to give us credit, because we had to defend well.
“The two in the middle of the park had to pick up a lot of second balls, because they have got quality which can strike from distance.
“You have to be solid in your defence to cope with that.”
Forest gave a debut to Croatian midfielder Filip Krovinovic against Barnsley and Hughton was happy with what he saw from his loan recruit.
“I thought we did well in in what was a difficult game,” he said.
“Anything that bounced or went into that midfield area, there was a lot of bodies and they pressed really well. It wasn’t the ideal type of game for him.
“But he was involved in the chances that we had. I was pleased with his contribution and looking forward to more.”