WHAT A THRILLER!
Midweek round-up, including Aston Villa 5 Nottingham Forest 5
IT’S not often that a draw hogs the headlines, but then again you don’t often get matches that end 5-5!
But that’s exactly what happened as Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest played out a thriller at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
Villa came into the game cocka-hoop following their 4-2 Second City derby win against Birmingham City on Sunday, but it looked as though they were still revelling in those plaudits as Forest raced into a two-goal lead in the opening six minutes through former Villa loanee Lewis Grabban and Joao Carvalho.
Villa quickly woke from their slumbers and were back level with just 14 minutes played, Tammy Abraham netting both. Matty Cash restored Forest’s lead on 22 minutes, but it was all-square at the break after Abraham completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Jack Robinson fouled Yannick Bolasie.
The impressive Joe Lolley cracked home a superb 25-yarder to give Forest the lead yet again just six minutes into the second half, but the game took another twist when they lost Tobias Figueiredo to a red card in the 68th minute for a foul on John McGinn.
Twist
Villa made the most of the extra man and swept into a 5-4 lead with goals from Abraham, his fourth of an incredible night, on 71 minutes and Anwar El-Ghazi four minutes later.
It looked as though Villa had done enough, but there was still time for Forest’s ten men to rescue a point as Grabban notched his second goal of the game eight minutes from time.
Shell-shocked Villa boss Dean Smith said: “I’ve never been involved in a game like that. If you score five goals at home, you should win. Tammy has a great work-rate and that’s why he gets so many chances.
“We’re devastated by their fifth goal because that’s something we should’ve been better at.”
Forest manager Aitor Karanka was also stunned by the goal spree, but proud of his players.
“It’s been a crazy game but we can’t forget we’ve played against one of the best teams, with better players, and we were attacking even with ten men,” he said. “We showed big personality and commitment.”
League leaders Norwich also played out a draw – their game at lowly Hull finishing goalless.
Middlesbrough slipped a place to third after a 1-1 draw at Preston. Alan Browne fired home shortly before the interval to give Preston the lead, but Boro levelled things up in the opening minute of the second half as substitute Marcus Tavernier slotted home.
Boro’s slip allowed Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds to leapfrog them into second – though they were given a mighty scare by struggling Reading at Elland Road.
Leeds were the better side and had their chances, but they round the Royals’ Finnish keeper Anssi Jaakkola in inspired form. The Whites eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark when Stuart Dallas netted from close range.
However, there was late drama when Reading were awarded a last-minute penalty after Barry Douglas fouled sub Josh Sims. Reading striker Marc McNulty stepped up to take the spot-kick, but keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell dived low to his right to pull
off a brilliant save and ensure his side picked up maximum points.
A delighted Bielsa said: “I’m very happy for Bailey Peacock-Farrell and the team. He has shown bravery and resolve in games and he had a big influence in keeping us ahead in the game.”
Bravery
On-song West Brom came from behind to win 2-1 at Swansea, all the goals coming in the first half. Oli McBurnie gave the Swans a tenth minute lead, but the Baggies hit back through Craig Dawson, who headed home the equaliser three minutes later.
Ahmed Hegazi headed the winner a minute before the break to maintain their momentum.
Sheffield United ran out 3-2 winners in an entertaining clash at out-of-sorts Brentford. Top scorer Neal Maupay and Romaine Sawyers, with an effort that deflected in off John Fleck, netted for the Bees, while an Ezri Konsa own goal, Oliver Norwood cracker and Leon Clarke strike won it for the Blades.
Derby slipped a place to seventh following a 2-1 defeat at former manager Gary Rowett’s
Stoke. Sam Clucas gave Stoke the lead, but they were rocked when Oghenekaro Etebo was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Richard Keogh.
In the aftermath of the red card, Derby’s Bradley Johnson bit into Joe Allen’s shirt and both received yellow cards. Allen has since said that Johnson didn’t bite him in the fracas, though the latter was handed a four-match ban by the FA.
The Rams drew level against the ten men when Harry Wilson netted another of his top-class free-kicks on 50 minutes.
However, the Potters dug deep and Tom Ince slotted home a 64th minute winner to earn them a morale-boosting victory.
Luke Freeman netted an injury time equaliser as QPR bagged a point from their trip to Rotherham. In another game with early goals, it was 2-1 to Rotherham with just 15 minutes gone. Will Vaulks (6) and Clark Robertson (15) netted for the Millers with Nahki Wells (12) replying for the R’s.
Misery
It seemed as though Paul Warne’s men had done enough, but Freeman netted with a diving header at the death to level it.
Sheffield Wednesday earned a much-needed victory and prolonged Bolton’s misery as they ran out 1-0 victors at Hillsborough. Wednesday skipper Tom Lees headed home the winner in the 57th minute. Birmingham bounced back from their derby defeat to Aston Villa with a solid 2-0 win at Millwall. A James Meredith own goal on 11 minutes set them on their way and their task became simpler when the Lions’ Ryan Leonard was sent off for his second bookable offence with just 30 minutes played. Skipper Michael Morrison wrapped up the points with the second on 76 minutes.
Wigan put a sticky spell behind them with a 3-1 success against Blackburn. Goals from Gary Roberts, James Vaughan (pen) and Callum McManaman helped the Latics ease to victory.
Bristol City put a four-game losing streak behind them as they came from behind twice to win at bottom of the table Ipswich.
Freddie Sears gave Ipswich the lead just after the half-hour, but the main drama came in a nine-minute spell in the second period. A Bartosz Bialkowski own goal (55) handed the Robins a leveller, but Sears (58) then notched his second. Jamie Paterson equalised a minute later and sub Famara Diedhiou (64) then headed the winner.