Forest move top as Jones woes continue

Stoke 2 City Gregory 10, Mcclean 84 Nottingham Forest 3 Lolley 36, Ameobi 47, Grabban 61 Att: 23,800 Nathan Jones accepted that his job is on the line after Nottingham Forest recovered from conceding an early goal to go top of the Championship and heap more pressure on the Stoke City manager.

“If anyone thinks I can’t change this, I have no problem,” Jones said. “I’m not going to hang around if I’m not wanted. But if the board trust me and the players trust me...

“Before I came here I won near enough 60 per cent of my games. I’m doing not much different and, in theory, I’m working with better players, but we keep making individual errors.”

Indeed, it was a mistake by goalkeeper Jack Butland that changed the mood and balance of this match after Lee Gregory’s first goal for Stoke had deservedly rewarded a dominant opening half-hour. Butland spilt a cross from Matty Cash and Joe Lolley scored.

Stoke seemed suddenly insecure and conceded again two minutes into the second half, Sammy Ameobi heading in another Cash cross.

Lewis Grabban added a third goal, leaving Jones’s side with an unwanted club record of 10 home matches without a victory.

A header by James Mcclean gave Stoke hope of salvaging a point but Forest did not let their advantage slip, although manager Sabri Lamouchi reflected: “We got back in the game by chance and we were never in control. The players need to play with more confidence.”

Stoke City