Nottingham Forest missed the opportunity to move into the automatic promotion places with a 1-0 home loss against Charlton Athletic.
Missed Opportunity As Nottingham Forest Drop Points
Lyle Taylor’s well-timed run to meet an excellent Naby Sarr cross proved to be the difference as Forest slipped up against the Addicks.
This game should have been a great opportunity for Forest to throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the race for automatic promotion.
They came into the fixture just a point behind second-placed Leeds United having beaten them on Saturday.
Their opponents, Lee Bowyer’s Charlton Athletic, had won only once in all competitions since the turn of the new year.
For Charlton, this match was of similar importance but for a completely different reason.
The Addicks sat precariously above the relegation zone and were looking to avoid being in an end-of-season scrap.
Changes aplenty were made with Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi looking ahead to his side’s trip to West Brom this weekend; however, they hindered any kind of progress for the Reds as they produced a lacklustre performance.
First Half
An early foul on Joe Lolley allowed Forest to test Dillon Phillips’ reactions in the first minute. The hosts were unable to make any real impact though with Lolley’s delivering being cleared comfortably.
But the chances inside the opening 15 minutes were relatively well spread between the two sides.
Alfie Doughty’s run down the left led to a dinked cross into the penalty box but Tomer Hemed’s attempt was blocked for a corner.
The hosts had a chance of their own when an excellent passing move created space to attack. Lolley eventually crossed into the box but on-loan striker Adama Diakhaby could not capitalise with his leaping header.
Lolley again created a chance when he flashed a low cross into the box but his delivery had too much power to be connected with.
Taylor cleverly sent Doughty into space on 14 minutes and the tricky winger forced a one-handed save from Brice Samba.
But the Forest ‘keeper was unable to stop the visitors ten minutes later when Sarr collected a loose ball and curled a beautiful cross into the far-post where Taylor slid home a volley.
Conceding how they did seemed to regenerate Forest’s energy.
They almost responded immediately when Carl Jenkinson’s effort was flicked onto the crossbar by Sarr.
Moments later clever thinking from Ryan Yates in taking a freekick quickly led to Tiago Silva striking just a foot wide of the upright.
The hosts again came close when Diakhaby drove a low cross into the box; Tyler Walker’s effort struck the post as Forest entered the break behind.
Second Half
The visitors very nearly found themselves two-goals ahead courtesy of sloppy Forest defending.
Taylor sent Hemed into the penalty area with a threaded through-ball but both of his efforts were blocked by last-ditch blocks.
Lee Bowyer’s side were gifted another chance to create a goal when a Forest corner was headed away. The clearance was just off-target, otherwise Doughty would have torn away into acres of space.
Lolley produced a rare attacking chance for Forest when he weaved past a few defenders; he shanked an effort wide.
Both sides made changes on the hour-mark as Silva and Gaetan Bong came off for Forest in place of Alfa Semedo and Matty Cash. Aiden McGeady and Ben Purrington replaced Erhun Oztumer and Doughty.
The hosts almost drew level when substitute Matty Cash’s cross deflected into the path of Walker. The striker looked to bundle it home from close range but Phillips was quick to react.
Forest completely lacked any kind of attacking panache.
Each time they went forward they wastefully struck wide or failed to even create an opportunity.
Having beaten Leeds on Saturday evening, Forest fans will be incredibly disappointed at their performance against Charlton.
Nottingham Forest XI: Samba, Jenkinson, Worrall, Figueiredo, Bong (Cash, 59), Watson (C), Yates (Da Costa, 69), Silva (Semedo, 59), Diakhaby, Lolley, Walker.
Subs: Muric, Carvalho, Dawson, Mighten.
Charlton Athletic XI: Phillips, Lockyer, Pearce, Sarr, Matthews, Davis, Oztumer (McGeady, 59), Cullen, Doughty (Purrington, 60), Hemed (Smith, 73), Taylor.
Subs: Amos, Oshilaja, Aneke, Bonne.
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