Wood to rescue as Gio stakes claim
FOREST RECOVER TO CLAIM WHAT MAY BE PRECIOUS POINT IN SURVIVAL BATTLE
A GOOD point or not good enough? Reason to be hopeful or cause for concern for Nottingham Forest?
Maybe the reality is both sides of the coin apply when it comes to the Reds – and that says much about just how precarious their position is. Their top-flight status remains very much in the balance. They are back out of the relegation zone (just) but certainly not out of trouble.
It is possible to view Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in both a positive and negative light at the same time. It is not even necessarily about whether your glass falls into either the half-full or half-empty category, it is more a case of it being a double-edged sword.
There was character in fighting back from going behind to Jeanphilippe Mateta’s opener but a lack of spirit to begin with in a tepid first half. The point could be a valuable one but it also highlighted why Nuno Espirito Santo’s side continue to struggle.
Forest’s first game back after the international break and their first since being docked four points for breaching financial rules, prompted as many questions as it provided answers. Below, we take a look at some of the main talking points from the game.
■■Wood to the rescue
It might have taken Chris Wood some time to win over his doubters but there can’t be many of them left now. The Reds need him.
The New Zealand international has thrived under Nuno – but he requires service. If Saturday showed anything, it is that Forest have to keep up a supply line to Wood.
In the first half, he was living off scraps. The hosts got into some decent positions and put together some positive passages of play but they lacked end product. That is not a new issue, of course; it has been a problem for a while and remains one they need to solve.
Nevertheless, the second half was better all round and Wood made it count. A special goal it was, too. It required superb technique. The striker had his back to goal when he met Morgan Gibbs-white’s delightful floated ball in but he still somehow managed to deftly flick it over ex-reds loanee Dean Henderson.
His second in as many games, it brought the home team level and it put Wood on 11 for the season in all competitions. If Forest are going to beat the drop, they are going to need him to get a few more – not least because some of his team-mates looked scared to shoot at times before the break.
■■Reyna stakes his claim
Prior to Saturday, Gio Reyna’s game time in the Garibaldi amounted to only 39 minutes. He got half an hour against Palace and he made a strong case for inclusion in the starting 11.
Nuno might also have hit upon a way of incorporating the American and Gibbs-white into the same team. It might not be a long-term answer but it could certainly be an option.
When Reyna came on, Gibbswhite dropped deeper and was superb. He was able to put his stamp on the second half and still contributed from an attacking sense, as his assist showed.
Reyna was involved in the buildup to the goal, too. And he did well in his half-hour appearance. He was positive, used the ball well and almost scored.
Both the Borussia Dortmund loanee and Gibbs-white can play in a few different positions but had essentially been competing for the number 10 role. Now they have shown how they can work together.
Reyna will have returned Trentside
full of confidence after a successful camp with the USA. Given Forest really need to pick up wins, he must surely have shown he merits more minutes.
■■Finding balance
Reyna is not the only change Nuno might consider making against Fulham tomorrow night. With that in mind, it is difficult to escape the sense that the Portuguese is still grappling with finding his best team – not to mention establishing a settled one.
Getting the balance right in several areas of the pitch is proving difficult. It certainly wasn’t there in
midfield in the first half on Saturday.
Nuno hooked Ibrahim Sangare at the interval.
Not exactly what a manager wants to be doing with his club record signing in such a big game but the former PSV man was just not at the races.
There is a debate to be had about whether the combination of Sangare and Ryan Yates works, particularly at the City Ground when the Reds should really be going for games. The second half was much better with Gibbs-white deeper but would Forest really want him playing that role regularly?
Much is riding on Nuno getting his team selection right at the top end of the pitch, too. Eyebrows were raised when Anthony Elanga was named on the bench against Palace, and with Divock Origi again struggling for end product, it would be no surprise if the ex-manchester United youngster returns to the line-up against Fulham.
■The fight ahead
Another game down, eight more to go. The next couple of months are not going to be for the faint of heart.
Forza Garibaldi’s Trent End banner before kick-off read: “We shall fight and we shall overcome.” The message from the fans came across loud and clear.
There was a similar sentiment from players in their post-match social media posts. But the real evidence of whether that is backed up with actions will be on the pitch.
“We will keep pushing and keep fighting,” Wood said on Instagram. “Let’s keep fighting,” wrote Gibbswhite.
It was a good response from the hosts to falling behind in the game. It was also an immediate response, of sorts, to dropping into the bottom three.
The Reds are only above the dotted line on goal difference, however. And there isn’t even a great deal in that – with -16 compared to Luton Town’s -19. The final margins could be incredibly fine.
Less than two weeks after they dropped into the relegation zone by virtue of their points deduction, Forest got themselves out of there at the first opportunity to do so.
But a lot of work lies ahead if they are to remain out of trouble.