BREN STUNS ROO’S RAMS
Johnson smashes late leveller
CHRIS HUGHTON still hasn’t got a win but his manager’s job looks safer after this Nottingham Forest fightback.
Forest were struggling to get over Tom Lawrence’s early opener for the Rams until Hughton decided to meet local derby fire with fire.
He has been slammed by fans for the ultradefensive teams he picks but in the second half he got them roaring.
Speedy winger Alex Mighten was the first on and goal-snatcher Lewis Grabban followed with 20 minutes remaining.
That gave Forest a front three of Mighten, Grabban and Lyle Taylor and they tore into Derby.
“When you go 1-0 down, and how we’ve been so far this season, you think, ‘It ain’t gonna be our day again’,” Hughton admitted.
“But we came back and it is something we can build on.”
Hughton wants at least two more players before transfer deadline and there is a feeling on the Forest board that he deserves more time.
And the fans loved this Forest second half.
Grabban brought a great save out of Derby keeper Kelle Roos and teen Mighten terrorised down the left wing.
Eight minutes from time it was Mighten who got Derby into sixes and sevens again and they were still dizzy as Gaetan Bong’s cross wasn’t headed clear, giving unmarked Brennan Johnson the chance to belt in his equaliser.
It’s nine league and cup games now since Derby won one of these local battles – and with it the Brian Clough Trophy – but boss Wayne Rooney has his sights on bigger things.
He needs Lawrence to be fit because he is key to what he is trying to do in very restricted financial circumstances.
“Lawrence has been suffering with a groin injury and had an injection to play,” Rooney revealed.
“I don’t know as yet what this injury is.”
Lawrence took his goal well, made by Craig Forsyth, whose high ball forward undid the Forest defence, allowing Lawrence to take over.
He controlled the ball as full-back Bong made a poor attempt to interrupt him and then fired past keeper Brice Samba.
Derby cracked in the 82nd minute and Rooney moaned: “That’s happening too much. We’ve conceded a lot of late goals and we must find a way of stopping that.”