Nottingham Forest were beaten 2-1 at Fulham to lose a Premier League game for the second time in the last three and a second in succession away from home.
This was always going to be a tough game. Playing on Tuesday night was always going to make this game hard but playing extra-time and penalties made the situation nigh in impossible for Forest.
The Reds had to call upon Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood to progress in the FA Cup against Exeter and the tired legs were evident at Craven Cottage.
Taiwo Awoniyi suffered an injury in the game against Exeter. As a result, he was a glaring omission from the Forest squad yesterday and it limited the options available to Nuno Espirito Santo.
Nuno Espirito Santo delivers Taiwo Awoniyi update
The lack of a striker on the bench was really laid bare with Forest unable to call upon anyone to replace Wood and try something a little bit different when chasing the game.
Evangelos Marinakis wanted a new striker in January. However, the Reds were left frustrated in their attempts to get one and have instead been forced to go with what they have in the team’s quest for European football.
Awoniyi, it seems, won’t be out for too long, however. He received 12 minutes of treatment on the field at Exeter but was able to walk out of the medical room with nothing other than a broken nose.
After yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham, Espirito Santo has delivered an update on the fitness of Awoniyi and it does appear to be relatively good news for the Forest striker.
The Forest head coach told BBC Radio Nottingham: “He was not cleared to go as per the protocols with concussions. It’s nothing other than that, I think Taiwo is going to be available for the next one but of course, we have to see.”
Awoniyi has a part to play for Forest this season
It should give the striker some confidence that a panic striker wasn’t added to the ranks in January and it likely suggests that the Reds do still have some confidence in the Nigerian.
He was in fine form before his injury against Exeter. He put Forest ahead with a well-taken first-half goal and there is still a player who can make a Premier League impact there.
Awoniyi still has some credit in the bank following his first two seasons at the club. With that in mind, he will feel that he can act as adequate backup for Wood between now and the end of the season.
Concussion isn’t to be messed with in the modern era. However, it does feel pretty likely that Awoniyi will make the trip to Newcastle with a protective mask following his nose break last time out.
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