PHILIP GETS TOP BILLING
Midfielder blasts home winner
SCOTT PARKER slammed David Brooks after he got himself sent off and put Bournemouth under pressure.
The Welsh international, who scored a stunning opening goal for the Cherries in the 28th minute, grabbed Jordi Osei-Tutu’s shirt, giving ref Geoff Eltringham no option but to show him a second yellow card.
Bournemouth were left to defend their 2-1 lead for the last half an hour a man short after Philip Billing had restored their advantage following Scott McKenna’s equaliser, and boss Parker said: “Brooks’ team-mates have got him out of a hole.
“He’s let his team-mates down by making a silly decision. Stupid.
“Brooks is sheepish in the dressing room, he knows exactly what he’s done and the mistake he’s made.
“No problem if he learns from it. I’ll make sure he does, I’ll work with him and explain what he’s done and that he can’t do it again.”
Forest worked hard to try and take advantage of Brooks’ moment of madness but failed to break down Bournemouth again.
It’s two Championship defeats out of two for Forest and manager Chris Hughton is desperate to get more players in.
“If we feel sorry for ourselves then you know what is going to happen,” Hughton said.
“We are at home again on Wednesday against Blackburn and that’s our chance to turn it round.
“But we do need more players. It’s not for the want of trying but it’s proving to be a difficult transfer window.
“Whether we get players in during the next few days or in the last two weeks of the window I don’t know – but we need them.”
Hughton claims Forest lost to soft goals but that’s unfair on Bournemouth who look like promotion contenders again this season.
Brooks’ goal was the best moment of a busy first half.
His sprinting run set up a one-two with Dominic Solanke and the return ball was played perfectly into Brooks’ path and he cut through Forest’s defence and drove left footed past keeper Brice Samba.
Brooks was a constant threat and he set up a chance 10 minutes later, his pace again leaving Forest in his wake, but there was no Bournemouth man to keep up with him as the ball flashed agonisingly across goal. Mark Travers was hardly troubled in the Bournemouth net – and he was still standing watching when Ryan Yates’ 25-yarder smacked against the bottom of his left-hand post and rebounded along the goal-line.
Forest got level three minutes into the second half with a thumping McKenna header.
But they were only drawing for 10 minutes, the powerful Billing turning and smashing the ball in at the end of a good Bournemouth move, leaving Forest next to bottom at this very early stage of the season.