Lolley fuels Forest’s fire
SUPER-SUB Joe Lolley had boyhood club Birmingham licked to drag Forest out of the mire.
Ex-brum academy scholar Lolley volleyed home within seconds of his arrival to halve a 2-0 deficit.
Then his shot, saved by Lee Camp, was turned home by Daryl Murphy to rescue a point for Aitor Karanka’s side.
Looking to secure their first win of the season, Birmingham created the first two chances then scored from their third as they dominated the first period at the City Ground.
Omar Bogle just missed the target with a low shot in the 12th minute, then a free-kick from Gary Gardner sailed fractionally wide.
City took a deserved lead in the 21st minute.
Lukas Jutkiewicz planted a looping header over keeper Costel Pantilimon after Jacques Maghoma cut out a crossfield pass from Ben Watson and drove at the defence before crossing.
Jutkiewicz’s first goal of the season was Brum’s first in 291 minutes going back to the opening day, when Viv Solomon-otabor scored against Norwich.
Birmingham had registered 49 shots without finding the net in the Championship.
Forest’s first-half struggles were summed up when Hillal Soudani made a complete hash of an overhead kick, the ball hitting him on the head as he mis-hit it.
Karanka (below with Blues boss Garry Monk) watched as his side were regularly hassled out of their stride by hard-working Birmingham.
Jota pulled the strings out wide, midfelder Maikel Kieftenbeld threatened – his cross-cum-shot landing on top of the net – and it was no shock when the hosts were booed off at half-time.
Forest finally produced a move to get their supporters on their feet just before the hour mark.
Matty Cash won the ball deep inside his own half and burst forward, exchanging passes with sub Joao Carvalho only to see his goalbound drive blocked by Michael Morrison. Maghoma’s first-time effort from 12 yards arrowed straight at Pantilimon from Maxime Colin’s centre.
City doubled their lead when sub Che Adams turned sharply just inside the area and drilled low into the net on 73 minutes.
But their lead evaporated within minutes.
Just seconds after coming on, Lolley announced his arrival in spectacular fashion when he smashed a volley that flashed inside Camp’s near post after Jutkiewicz headed away a free kick.
Then Lolley turned creator as his shot was palmed away by Camp and Murphy buried the rebound from a narrow angle.