Three talking points as Nottingham Forest overcame a red card and injury setbacks to hold on and draw 1-1 against Crystal Palace, as Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson shone with the transfer deadline day on the horizon. George Edwards was at the match
Nottingham Forest’s gruelling and celebratory point at home to Liverpool just over a year ago was the last time it felt their players put as much into a match as they did the second half against Crystal Palace today.
They put everything on the line to make sure they held out for a 1-1 draw, as Morgan Gibbs-White’s opener was cancelled out by an Ismaila Sarr penalty on the brink of half time.
Given Forest‘s current form and Palace’s state of disarray, that would have seemed a bizarre statement pre-match. Even midway through the first half, after the Reds had nicked an early goal and were completely on top, as they failed to score a second goal that they would have fully merited.
But football isn’t defined by periods of play; it’s defined by moments, and the pendulum swung 180 degrees as the half drew to a close, gifting the Eagles a route back into the game their abject football didn’t deserve.
Everything left on the pitch
Left-back Neco Williams’ instinctive reaction on the goal line to swipe Jefferson Lerma’s header away from goal with his left arm could only mean one thing: referee Tony Harrington decisively pointing to the spot and giving the Welshman his marching orders, the resulting penalty confidently slotted away by Sarr.
With no like-for-like replacement on the bench and 45 minutes with a man down ahead, Forest were facing an uphill battle.
That struggle would test their character and strength, both physically and mentally; a test they passed with flying colours, coming away slightly disappointed by the end after creating the second half’s best chances despite being down to 10.
Since promotion, Forest have never been a possession-based team, consistently looking more comfortable sitting deep and playing on the break, with Palace’s extra man putting the impetus on them and allowing the Reds to do what they do best.
All nine outfield players ran their absolute socks off, not conceding a single shot on target in the second half despite the visitor’s 74% share of possession, frustrating Crystal Palace not for the first time this season; although this time not in the boardroom.
By the end many were running on empty, Palace’s sloppy play gifting Forest several chances to break forward with pace that they couldn’t take simply because of their tiredness.
The month of January and the contrasting performances displayed by his players proved to Sean Dyche exactly which members of his squad were invested in the fight, each one involved today pouring in heart and soul to get Forest over the line.
Midfield bossing the game once again
Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White exemplify absolutely everything you’d want in a Premier League midfield three.
Three physical athletes, three sets of skills that perfectly complement each other and an understanding that solidifies and evolves the more and more they play together.
Anderson caught the eye, his agility and gameplay seeing him win the ball, beat a man or two and find a pass forward with such consistency throughout the match, amassing the most touches, passes and recoveries in a red shirt. He showed the world why he is England’s starting number six while his closest competition, Palace’s Adam Wharton, could only watch on — missing out due to suspension.
Next to him, Sangaré was his usual dominating and confident self. His stamina shone through, covering the left side defensively when the ball was on Murillo’s side and tucking in midfield when needed, still pressing and getting forward as the game drew out.
Once Igor Jesus was substituted, he was Forest’s aerial outball from the back, looking completely transformed from the player who was struggling to overcome malaria and injury not so long ago.
Ahead, Gibbs-White was given man of the match in-stadium, opening the scoring after five minutes from six yards out, digging deep more than most by the end, visibly unable to sprint forward in the last 10 minutes.
His positional awareness once Forest were down to 10 was integral, knowing exactly when to keep the ball or break with pace and push up with Jesus or sit deep.
Put simply, Forest don’t play well when they aren’t on the field, and the trio perform better when they have each other, so managing their minutes to maximise their influence will be vital, especially as they are a man lighter — Douglas Luiz playing 90 minutes in Aston Villa’s defeat to Brentford after he departed Trentside this week.
Depth will be tested as deadline day looms
For the first time under Sean Dyche, Forest look settled. The same XI fielded for the third consecutive league game has yielded defensive solidity and a growing sense of familiarity.
They are now four unbeaten in the Premier League, six points clear of the relegation zone and have lost just one of their last six games in 90 minutes.
However, that consistency will be ruptured on Friday night when the Reds travel to Leeds, with potentially three absentees compared to the XI that took to the field today.
Obviously Neco Williams will be suspended, serving just a one-match ban after his sending off. His replacement, Morato, was faultless, slotting in next to Nikola Milenkovic as Murillo shifted to left back, but that solution cannot be Forest’s fix.
It’s been pretty clear Oleksander Zinchenko hasn’t been in favour since the manager arrived, making just four appearances under Dyche, as the termination of his loan from Arsenal was confirmed post-match. That, coupled with Nicolo Savona’s current injury, leaves Forest completely short of cover at full back, with Forest supposedly interested in experienced Fiorentina left-back Robin Gosens despite the player allegedly reluctant about the move.
With the transfer window closing tomorrow, Forest kicked off their last-minute buys pre-match, announcing and unveiling German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on a short-term deal from Manchester City.
The 33-year-old’s arrival came just hours before Matz Sels was forced off at half-time with a suspected groin injury, paving the way for summer signing Angus Gunn’s debut from the bench. The Scotland international had little to do but performed with assurance in what could quite possibly be his first and last taste of PL action this season, with Sels and presumably Ortega now ahead of him.
Also joining Sels on the half-time injury list was winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who, after uncomfortably strolling round in the first half holding his left shoulder, was replaced by skipper Ryan Yates. The potential of losing him doesn’t seem as daunting as it once would have, given his own inconsistencies and Forest’s reasonable depth out wide, with suggestions Forest could look to reunite Dyche with Everton winger Dwight McNeil, a move the Toffees seem hesitant to facilitate.
The obvious point is that Forest need more bodies, set to grapple with tougher fixtures as they progress in the Europa League alongside their continuing survival battle in the Premier League. However, how Forest adapt to that challenge is the vital aspect.
They cannot afford to lose their current performance levels, something fostered only by the return of Ibrahim Sangaré and a stability and consistency growing through the core of the side.
As injuries, suspensions and rotation come into play, Forest must bottle up the desire shown in the second half to secure a point against Crystal Palace and replicate it as the season begins to define itself.
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