Nottingham Forest player Ethan Horvath dropped another clanger last night as Luton defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.
Fortunately, on this occasion, it cost the Hatters very little. The hosts came from behind to gain a psychological edge on a team they could meet in the play-offs.
These kinds of errors do seem to follow Horvath around. This one allowed Cameron Archer to open the scoring in the first half of the contest.
After a long ball from Ryan Giles, Horvath advanced but mistimed his run, with Archer nipping in to open the scoring.
Horvath cut a disconsolate figure afterwards and it was vitally important that he dusted himself down quickly.
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The American is a frustrating goalkeeper. Horvath has kept 19 clean sheets in the Championship this season and he’s the top-performing stopper in that sense.
Horvath has already helped Luton guarantee a play-off place and the Hatters will take part in them for the second successive season.
Last season, they were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Huddersfield who set up a Wembley showdown with Forest who defeated Sheffield United.
This time they will go into the play-offs with more prowess. They’re guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish and that means a home-leg second.
Horvath will hope to eradicate these errors. Host of The Lutonian podcast, James Cunliffe called the goalkeeper’s moment a ‘howler’ last night and clearly there’s a concentration concern taking place.
Forest signed Horvath on a free transfer prior to the 2021/22 campaign.
Forest stopper Horvath dropped another clanger
It’s hard to criticise him given the number of clean sheets he’s kept this season but this was another big error by the goalkeeper.
Last season he played 11 times for the Reds and in truth, the Reds fan base didn’t see anything of this nature.
He deputised for Brice Samba on several occasions and was largely a safe pair of hands when he was called upon by Steve Cooper.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Horvath at the City Ground.
His loan with Luton will expire in the summer and he does have another year to run on his existing deal at Forest.
If the Reds avoid relegation then he will almost certainly be allowed to leave the club but if it’s Championship football on the cards, Horvath could be kept.