Nottingham Forest fail to guarantee play-off spot in topsy-turvy draw with fellow promotion-hunters Swansea
It has been over 20 years since they last operated in the Premier League, so Nottingham Forest know all about doing it the hard way.
Sabri Lamouchi is the latest manager charged with ending that painful exile and Forest are still waiting to be certain of securing their place in the play-offs, for the first time since 2011.
This was another topsy-turvy encounter which perfectly captured the crazy world of the Championship, with a draw taking Forest five points clear of seventh-placed Millwall with two games left to play.
Victory would have confirmed Lamouchi a play-off berth but there is still work to do, as Swansea’s own hopes of gatecrashing the party will also have to wait.
Lamouchi said: “It was one more point and we will keep believing until the end. We wanted the win to secure the play-off but it was impossible tonight.
“Our season is good for the moment and we want to get the maximum points we can. This was a very strange game but we showed a positive reaction.”
Swansea are only three points adrift of the play-off places yet this will feel like a missed opportunity for Steve Cooper, the club’s manager.
After losing at the death to Leeds last weekend, this was a game they arguably needed to win and they are set to be without defender Kyle Naughton for the final two games after he was dismissed for a crude lunge on Forest substitute Alex Mighten late on.
Swansea started brilliantly and the opening goal after eight minutes was inevitable, with Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster striking a wonderful left-footed shot into the top corner from 12 yards.
It was Brewster’s ninth goal in 18 appearances for Swansea and further proof of his growing reputation, a finish displaying expert technique.
Yet Forest fought back and levelled in the 20th minute, against the run of play, with a sublime curling effort from Sammy Ameobi, the winger.
Ameobi was inches away from adding a second three minutes before half-time, with Lamouchi sinking to his knees in frustration as the ball rolled wide of the far post.
Swansea restored their advantage on the stroke of half-time, after Andre Ayew was brought down by Ryan Yates. Ayew stepped up to score from the spot.
Television replays appeared to show Yates’s challenge was outside the area, and it would not be the last decision of referee Oliver Langford to infuriate both managers. Langford’s performance was poor and further proof of the declining standards in refereeing outside the Premier League.
In an open, entertaining, but niggly contest, Ameobi drew Forest level 10 minutes into the second half with a fine low strike from 25 yards.
The home team were now in control and Naughton’s red mist descended in the 82nd minute with a dreadful stamp on Mighten, but Forest could not find a winner.
Cooper said: “To come here for one of the toughest away games and lead twice, and not win, is incredibly frustrating.
“The players won’t need lifting up or motivating. It seems to be going to the wire and we’re only looking up, not down. We’ve got to try and get six points and concentrate on ourselves, and then hopefully sneak in if we can. We’re not giving up.”
