Nottingham Forest were denied all three points at The Hawthorns, with a late Jay Rodriguez penalty earning the hosts a point from a 2-2 draw.

Forest played their part in an entertaining game and led twice.

First, some neat football from Jack Colback and Lewis Grabban teed up Ryan Yates to tap home, with the ball coming off Stefan Johansen’s toe.

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Jacob Murphy restored parity shortly after the break before Yates did claim his first Forest goal with a decent strike on the volley.

It wasn’t to be for the Reds though, following a dose of controversy.

Dwight Gayle went down in the box under zero contact but referee Lee Mason saw otherwise and pointed to the spot. Rodriguez duly obliged from 12-yards out.

The performance was better from Forest, particularly in the second half.

Martin O’Neill will naturally pick out the positives and head to Preston North End on Saturday looking to claim his first win on the road.

Following the draw in the West Midlands, Seat Pitch rated the players out of 10 as follows…

Costel Pantilimon – 7

Pantilimon was rarely called into action and coped extremely well with everything that he was required to do.

Saidy Janko – 6

The Swiss defender had another steady game at right-back and kept a close eye on Kieran Gibbs who spent the night marauding forward.

Alexander Milosevic – 8

The big Swede looked colossal once again. On his first two performances in the Garibaldi, he looks like a decent piece of business on a free transfer.

Yohan Benalouane – 7

The man in the mask played through the pain barrier for the Reds and didn’t hold back. The Tunisian was his usual robust self and Forest looked stronger with his presence in the back four.

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Jack Robinson – 8

A very good performance up against a quick winger in Jacob Murphy. Forest look far more balanced when Robinson is in his more natural left-back role.

Ben Watson – 6

The Forest captain put a shift in, despite his second game in four days. Was perhaps a little suspect for the first Albion goal but other than that another half-decent performance.

Jack Colback – 9 – Seat Pitch Star Man

Colback highlighted exactly what Forest have been missing during the last two games he has sat out through suspension. The on-loan Newcastle midfielder assisted the first goal, whilst his combative midfield work was a joy to behold.

(Photo by Adam Fradgley – AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images)

Ryan Yates – 8

Another great showing from the academy graduate. Should have scored the first and volleyed in the second to score what should have been the winning goal for Forest.

Joe Lolley – 8

Ran his socks off all night and in the two games since he penned a new deal Lolley appears to be back to his best. Was denied a stonewall penalty in stoppage time as Gibbs practically pulled the shirt from his back.

Ben Osborn – 6

Struggled in possession during the first period but worked tirelessly in the second. It wasn’t Osborn’s best game but his battling qualities are worthy of note.

(Photo by Adam Fradgley – AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images)

Lewis Grabban – 7

A brilliant performance from the Forest striker who led the line superbly well on his own. Grabban had a good chance to make it 3-1 to the Reds, but Sam Johnstone produced the best save of the night to deny him.

Related Topics

Close