Smash and Grabb finale
NOTTINGHAM FOREST manager Aitor Karanka hailed Lewis Grabban as the best striker in the Championship after the £6million man broke Rotherham’s resistance with a late penalty.
It was a second goal in two games for Grabban, who played 39 times for Rotherham during the 2011-12 campaign.
The match looked destined to end goalless until the 86th minute when Ben Osborn’s run into the box was abruptly ended by Ryan Williams’ clumsy challenge.
Grabban stepped up and coolly sent United keeper Marek Rodak the wrong way from the spot.
It was heartbreaking for the Millers, who had restricted Forest to a single shot on target before the penalty.
And the visitors could have taken the lead minutes earlier when Costel Pantilimon made a fantastic save to deny Richie Towell.
Karanka said: “It was one of those days. We haven’t played our best, it was a very difficult game.
“Rotherham are a good team, they have a good manager and have got momentum from gaining promotion. We knew it was going to be tough.
“But when you have the desire we have, the quality we have and you keep going until the end you can win the game.
“Lewis is the best striker in this league, that’s the reason we brought him here and it was great to see him score for a second game in a row.”
The visitors set out their stall to frustrate Forest with a five-man midfield and the home side struggled to find a way through.
Osborn did win a freekick in a dangerous position after just four minutes but Grabban fired it into the Millers wall and chances were thin on the ground after that. A well-worked short corner gave Osborn a sight of goal but his effort was deflected behind.
Rotherham threatened briefly from set-pieces, but neither Semi Ajayi nor Jamie Proctor could get a clear sight at goal. Forest’s record signing Joao Carvalho struck the post after the break racing onto a Saidy Janko pass.
But the game looked destined to end 0-0 until Osborn drew that vital late foul from Williams.
Rotherham manager Paul Warne said: “We made one mistake and it cost us the game.
“Our goalkeeper didn’t have a save to make until then and we caused the problems so I’m proud of the players.
‘We have got to start turning these performances into points.
“We have got to pick up points home and away.”