Two goals in ten minutes led to a frantic finish as Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Reading at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest Concede Late on to Drop Points Against Reading
After a drab first half, Lewis Grabban scored what he thought to be the winner with a poacher’s effort ten minutes before the end.
But Sam Baldock levelled the scoreline six minutes later by the finest of margins.
The result extends Forest’s unbeaten run to seven games; however, Sabri Lamouchi’s men will be wondering how exactly they had not beaten the Royals.
A Half of Few Chances
Forest came into the fixture knowing that they would need a victory in order to close the gap at the top of the Championship.
A win would have closed the deficit between themselves and second-placed Leeds to two points; instead, they head to Brentford on Saturday four points behind the automatic spots.
The hosts made just one change as Sammy Ameobi came in for Albert Adomah and the midfielder adopted a holding midfield role alongside Ben Watson in the first half.
Sabri Lamouchi’s side mostly threatened through Joe Lolley on the right flank.
The winger almost forced an opener as early as the second minute when he hurried down Tyler Blackett just outside the penalty area; the ball bounced away, falling to Lewis Grabban, but the Forest forward was unable to make the ball stick as he looked to create a chance.
Forest then found themselves enduring pressure as Reading created a few chances of their own in between a teasing freekick from Lolley.
John Swift had the Royals’ best chance from the opening ten minutes as he struck over the crossbar from 25-yards before shooting into Brice Samba’s hands.
Then Jordan Obita flashed a low shot past the far post after finding space on the edge of the penalty area.
Pele received the first yellow card of the evening as he clumsily dragged Watson down half-way into his side’s end of the pitch on 23 minutes.
Forest had six attempts on goal in the first half but only two troubled Royals ‘keeper Rafael Cabral.
The home side came close again when Lolley darted into space; he drilled a low cross into the box but the chance went begging as nobody could connect.
More chances followed as Joe Worrall shot from 30-yards out into Cabral’s gasp.
But Reading should have arguably gone into the half-time interval ahead.
Both Watson and Lolley shanked chances from the edge-of-the-box, allowing the visitors to counter-attack through Jordan Obita.
The Royals forward found space on the right side of the box but, after twisting and turning under pressure, his arrowed shot was awkwardly palmed away for a corner by Brice Samba.
Improved Second Half
Nottingham Forest started the second half in a brighter and improved fashion in comparison to the first half.
Joe Worrall came within touching distance of scoring when the visitors looked to pass the ball out from defence; the ball fell into Worrall’s path but the defender slammed a shot into the defender.
Obita should have done better when he latched onto a diagonal cross-field pass that broke Forest’s offside trap; he darted into the box but struck into Samba’s grasp.
The defensive weakness and inability to score led to Lamouchi making his first change. He introduced Joao Carvalho in place of Sow in midfield on 57 minutes.
Forest continued to press as Grabban tried to give the 27,840 crowd at the City Ground something to cheer about.
The Forest top-scorer felt he should have had a penalty when he went down against Blackett; referee David Webb thought otherwise and waved away the appeals.
Matty Cash also threatened, striking a half-volley past the post from a tight angle, but it was not long before Grabban finally broke the deadlock.
Ameobi squirmed into space inside the penalty box before striking a shot that seemed to be heading past the post; it was not to be though as Grabban popped up at the back-stick to poke the ball over the line with ten minutes left.
But Forest’s defensive concerns pulled at the heartstrings with six minutes later.
The hosts were unable to clear their lines with conviction and after the ball seemed to be cleared off the line, referee Webb pointed at his watch to confirm substitute Sam Baldock’s tap had crossed the line.
Forst looked for a winning goal in the final three minutes but it was not to be as they were made to draw 1-1 with Reading in dramatic style for the second time this season.
Nottingham Forest: Brice Samba, Yuri Ribeiro, Joe Worrall, Lewis Grabban, Ben Watson, Matty Cash, Sammy Ameobi, Michael Dawson (C), Samba Sow (Joao Carvalho, 61), Joe Lolley (Albert Adomah, 89), Tiago Silva.
Unused Subs: Jordan Smith, Carl Jenkinson, Alfa Semedo, Ryan Yates, Chema Rodriguez.
Reading: Rafael Cabral, Chris Gunter, Michael Morrison, Liam Moore (C), John Swift, Jordan Obita, Ovie Ejaria, Michael Olise (Danny Loader, 90), Tyler Blackett, Pele, George Puscas (Sam Baldock, 77).
Unused Subs: Sam Walker, Matt Miazga, Andy Rinomhota, Lucas Boye, Charlie Adam.
Attendance: 26,840 (808)
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