Molumby off as West Brom held

Championship

By Jon Culley at the Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion’s problems in front of goal continued as Nottingham Forest ground out a fourth draw in their last five. Valerian Ismael’s side have scored just twice in their last six matches, winning only one, and had to play the final quarter with 10 men after Jayson Molumby was booked twice in the space of 10 minutes.

The stalemate left Ismael frustrated again. “We are well-prepared, we have the game plan, and again we had four big chances to score,” he said. Forest have lost the zip that saw them win five out of six after Chris Hughton was sacked, but have lost only once in 12 for his successor, Steve Cooper.

Grady Diangana and Darnell Furlong missed West Brom’s best chances. Forest, sensing an opportunity after the red card, finally offered a threat, Sam Johnstone turning a deflected Brennan Johnson effort over. Yet the home team could have snatched the win had Jordan Hugill not blazed over. “We were average, to be honest,” was Cooper’s verdict.

West Bromwich Albion (3-4-2-1) Johnstone; Kipre, Bartley, Clarke; Furlong, Molumby, Mowatt, Townsend; Diangana (Phillips 60), Grant (Hugill 79); Robinson (Reach 72). Subs Button (g), Ajayi, Phillips, Reach, Gardner-hickman, Fellows. Booked Clarke, Molumby Sent off Molumby.

Nottingham Forest (3-4-3) Samba; Worrall, Figueiredo (Mighten 72), Mckenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Bong; Johnson, Grabban, Zinckernagel (Lolley 65). Subs Horvath (g), Dias, Ojeda, Drager, Taylor. Booked Figueiredo, Worrall.

Referee Gavin Ward (Surrey).