Lewis keeps on Grabb-ing
LEWIS GRABBAN’S £6million summer switch from Bournemouth is proving a brilliant piece of business.
The Nottingham Forest striker’s first-half brace gave him a staggering 15 goals in his last 15 appearances to keep Aitor Karanka’s men firmly in the thick of the promotion race.
Grabban, who scored twice in the 5-5 thriller with Aston Villa in midweek, is in the form of his life and was far too hot for Ipswich to handle.
The Tractor Boys remain bottom of the Championship after being outclassed from the start, while red-hot Forest are unbeaten in seven games and up to fifth.
Karanka said: “Lewis is exactly the kind of character that I like because he always wants to improve.
“He demands more of himself every time he plays and that is a great help to the rest of his team-mates.
“This group of players deserve a lot of credit because they’ve been excellent since the season started.”
After their dramatic draw at Villa this was a routine affair that was effectively over at half-time.
Grabban pounced for a ninth-minute opener when Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski could only parry Tendayi Darikwa’s longrange piledriver.
Bearded goal-poacher Grabban tucked away the rebound with deadly aplomb and Forest were denied a second when Gil Dias headed against the post.
But in the 38th minute the hosts struck again when a delightful pass from Joao Carvalho found Darikwa, whose low cross from the right flank was tapped home by Grabban for his fourth league double of an increasingly profitable campaign.
After the break, Michael Hefele struck an upright with a header and Grabban curled a brilliant effort onto the crossbar as the visitors somehow survived a serious mauling, although Forest skipper Michael Dawson was forced off with a hamstring injury,
Ipswich, however, look dead and buried even before the Christmas decorations go up.
Boss Paul Lambert (above) is yet to win a game since arriving at Portman Road at the end of October and his team lie seven points from safety.
Lambert, who handed a full debut to 18-year-old striker Jack Lankester, said: “We need some help in January but you never, ever give up.
“There’s a hell of a long way to go and we’ll be in the fight to stay up. We’ll get better.”