Hu: Must do better
CHRIS HUGHTON admitted to ‘mixed feelings’ despite seeing his Nottingham Forest side make certain of their Championship status for next season.
This draw, along with defeat for bitter rivals Derby, was enough for Hughton to complete the job he was brought in for back in October.
But the Forest boss does not believe it is any cause for celebration.
He said: “I’m pleased that in a very competitive division and a very competitive season, we’ve had a good enough spell in the last few months to put us in this position.
“But overall, I’m disappointed we’re not higher up the table.”
The biggest reason for that has been a lack of goals and captain Lewis Grabban gave the perfect example with a bad early miss after Harry Souttar’s mistake.
And his team was made to pay when Stoke took the lead after Josh Tymon played in fellow winger Rabbi Matondo. The loanee from German club Schalke got enough on Tymon’s cross to get it past Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba for his first Stoke goal.
Forest could have drawn level shortly after but James Garner’s teasing freekick eluded everyone.
However, five minutes after the interval two Stoke defenders failed to clear Forest sub Anthony Knockaert’s cross and Grabban poked in from five yards for his third goal in five games.
It’s now five games without a win for Stoke but boss Michael O’Neill said; “I was pleased with the performance. It’s good that we’re disappointed we didn’t come away with the points.” NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Samba 6; Christie 6, Worrall 6, McKenna 6, Ribeiro 6; Yates 6, Garner 6; Freeman 4 (Knockaert 37, 7), Cafu 5 (Mighten 69, 4), Krovinovic 6; Grabban 7.
Unused subs: J Smith, Soh, Colback, Jenkinson, Blackett, Murray, L Taylor. STOKE: Davies 6; T Smith 5, Batth 5, Souttar 6, NorringtonDavies 6; Mikel 6; Matondo 8 (Vokes 90), Clucas 6, Thompson 6, Tymon 6; Fletcher 5 (Brown 60).
Unused subs: Noukeu, Cousins, Coates, Norton, Malone, C Taylor, Jones. MAN OF THE MATCH: Rabbi Matondo. Scored his first Stoke goal and was a livewire all afternoon.
Referee: Andy Davies 7.
VITAL STATS
2 ........ Shots on Target .......... 1 3 ........ Shots off Target ......... 3 3 ................ Corners ................. 6 7 .................. Fouls ................... 11 1 ................ Offsides ................. 2 83.7..Passing Success % ..... 71.1 541 ....... Total Passes ........ 332 61.3 ..... Possession % ..... 38.7 47.8..Territorial Adv %..52.2