Fiery Nottingham Forest move out of drop zone with big win over Brighton

An own goal by Pascal Gross on the stroke of half-time followed by second-half efforts from Danilo and Morgan Gibbs-White gave Forest a vital win.

Nottingham Forest’s Felipe pushes Julio
Encisco as
tempers flare
last night. Pic: Tim Goode/PA

Nottingham Forest gave their Premier League survival hopes a much-needed shot in the arm after beating Brighton 3-1 at the City Ground.

Forest were on a seemingly irreversible slide back to the Championship after a horror run of 11 games without a win going back to February, but they stopped the rot and moved out of the bottom three.

Another defeat had been on the cards after the Seagulls went ahead through Facundo Buonanotte’s goal on his first Premier League start after Brennan Johnson had missed an early penalty for Forest.

But an own goal by Pascal Gross on the stroke of half-time followed by second-half efforts from Danilo and Morgan Gibbs-White gave them a vital win.

Brighton were looking to bounce back from the heart-breaking FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United, but this loss hurt their European ambitions.

With their exertions on Sunday at Wembley, Forest sniffed an opportunity and started brightly. They forged the perfect chance to get the advantage they needed when they were awarded an early penalty after Pervis Estupinan clumsily fouled Neco Williams. Jason Steele was on the bench for Brighton at Wembley and watched on as Robert Sanchez failed to save any United penalties in the shoot-out and he showed his team-mate how it was done, beating away Johnson’s effort in the 10th minute.

There was a sense Forest really needed that to go in as Brighton began to take control. Kaoru Mitoma was a constant threat and he almost created an opener as he skinned Serge Aurier and Felipe down the left and teed up Julio Enciso, whose shot was spectacularly tipped over the crossbar by Keylor Navas.

Forest had another brilliant opportunity to go ahead in the 32nd minute when Danilo sent Johnson clear on goal but, under a challenge from Lewis Dunk, the Wales international put his shot wide.

Brighton went ahead five minutes later. They had Navas to thank as a double blunder allowed Buonanotte to enjoy the perfect full league debut. The Chilean goalkeeper’s poor goal-kick handed possession straight back to the visitors and then he could only palm out Solly March’s shot into the danger area, giving the 18-year-old the easiest of tap-ins.

Forest got themselves level deep into first-half stoppage time. Taiwo Awoniyi set up Renan Lodi on the left and his cross was turned in by Gross at the near post.

A lengthy delay after a nasty injury to Williams, who was carried off on a stretcher after clashing with Johnson, seemed to change the atmosphere in the City Ground in the second half and the lid was lifted off in the 69th minute as Forest took the lead.

Danilo did well to close down Moses Caicedo on the halfway line and then raced on to Awoniyi’s pass before slotting into the far corner to send the home fans wild.

Forest nerves were settled in stoppage time as they were awarded another penalty after VAR spotted a handball by Dunk from a corner and Gibbs-White did what Johnson failed to do by sending Steele the wrong way.

FOREST: Nottm Forest: Navas, Aurier, Felipe, Niakhate (Worrall 14), Williams (Kouyate 65), Mangala, Danilo, Renan Lodi, Johnson (Toffolo 86), Gibbs-White,Awoniyi (Ayew 81).

BRIGHTON: Steele, Gross, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan (Welbeck 73), Caicedo, Mac Allister, March, Buonanotte (Offiah 88), Mitoma, Enciso (Undav 75).

Ref: Jarred Gillett (Australia)