Haynes grabs last-gasp equaliser

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1, BRISTOL CITY 1

 

Danny Haynes was the toast of the red half of Bristol after salvaging a point at the City Ground.

 

The Robins looked as though they were heading for their first defeat in seven matches when Wes Morgan fired Forest in front five minutes from time, smashing the ball high into the net from close range.

 

But City staged a thrilling fightback and levelled matters in the final minute, former Ipswich raider Haynes finishing off a swift counter-attack with an assured finish to earn the visitors a deserved point on the banks of the River Trent.

 

Despite a thrilling finale, this was a scrappy game played out between two sides who refused to take a backward step. Seven players were shown yellow cards as tempers threatened to boil over and referee Anthony Taylor had his work cut out to keep the lid on things.

 

In the end, a point suited both sides and City and Forest remain very much in play-off contention going into the international break.

​City boss Gary Johnson made two changes to his starting line-up at Nottingham Forest. If the return of Scottish international Paul Hartley at the expense of Lee Johnson in the centre of midfield came as little surprise, the same coulod not be said of the manager's decision to omit centre-back Jamie McCombe and recall Costa Rica striker Alvaro Saborio. Those changes signalled a switch to a 4-3-3 formation with Saborio joining Danny Haynes and leading scorer Nicky Maynard in a three-pronged attack.

McCombe was dropped to a bench which featured fit-again defender Liam Fontaine and teenage forward John Akinde. Unbeaten in their last seven games, Forest retained the side which started at Cardiff last time out, a selection which meant former City striker Dele Adebola remaining on the bench.

The last meeting between two sides proved a feisty encounter and this proved no difference when controversy flared in the opening few seconds. Chasing a lost cause, City forward Maynard was late with a lunging challenge on Chris Gunter which left the former Cardiff defender writhing in agony. Although the crowd were baying for the striker to be sent off, referee Anthony Taylor remained unmoved and issued a yellow instead.

Forest were the first to threaten in the final third, Polish midfielder Radoslaw Mejewski playing Paul Anderson in behind City’s back four and forcing keeper Dean Gerken to race from his line to smother the danger. City responded with a sweeping counter-attack of their own, Maynard meeting Jamie McAllister’s cross with a downward header which drifted harmlessly wide.

Although chances were few and far between, Gerken remained the busier of the two goalkeepers and he displayed total disregard for his own safety when hurling himself into a phalanx of players to punch clear an in-swinging free kick from Chris Cohen after 20 minutes. Frustrated by their team’s lack of success against a well-drilled rearguard, Forest fans voiced their disapproval when Evander Sno clattered into Paul McKenna a few moments later. Once again, referee Taylor saw fit to brandish a yellow card.

City could have no complaints about the cautions for Maynard and Sno and it was the home side who were experiencing most frustration as they continued to run into a proverbial brick wall in midfield. Their lack of punch up front notwithstanding, the visitors were showing signs of winning the battle in the middle of the park and Hartley and Sno, in particular, were causing Forest problems with the accuracy of their passing.

Unable to break down their opponents, Forest resorted to shooting from range and Joe Garner was narrowly off target with a fierce drive from fully 30 yards. Majewski went closer still moments later, testing Gerken with a shot the keeper took at head height, while City’s commitment to the cause again spilled over when Marvin Elliott went in late on Gunter to become the third visiting player to enter the referee’s notebook.

City commenced the second half in determined mood and almost found a way through the home defence when Maynard accepted a return pass from Elliott, only to find his route to goal blocked by the imposing form of Wes Morgan, who times his challenge to perfection inside the 18 yard box. But Forest’s big centre-half blotted his copybook soon afterwards, taking a dive in search of a penalty and earning himself a yellow card.

Bookings far outnumbered chances in front of goal and Sno again found himself in hot water, tangling with McKenna on the halfway line. The referee gave him a final warning and City manager Johnson withdrew him moments later, sending on Gavin Williams in his place. The Welsh international immediately made his presence felt, testing Lee Camp with a stinging volley which the keeper did well to hold. Forest boss Billy Davies also made a change, withdrawing Majewski and introducing veteran target man Adebola for the final 30 minutes and, when things still did not improve, he sent on Garath McCleary to replace the tiring Garner.

Camp was again troubled when Hartley fired in a free kick, the ball bouncing awkwardly before the keeper was able to clutch it to his chest. Although City were enjoying their best spell of the game, Johnson opted to make another change 20 minutes from time, taking off the ineffective Saborio, introducing centre-back McCombe and switching to a 3-5-2 formation.

McCleary was quickly to the fore for the home side, surging into space on the edge of the 18 yard box and sending a low shot skidding wide of Gerken’s goal. And City survived another scare when Gunter swung a cross over from the right and Adebola narrowly failed to apply a finishing touch at the far post. Davies played his final card with 17 minutes remaining, sending on Rob Earnshaw for David McGoldrick.

Forest should have scored seconds later, McCleary crossing for Anderson, who looked to have the simplest of tap-ins. But just as Forest fans were rising to acknowledge a goal, Cole Skuse slid in with a crucial intervention and the ball somehow rolled loose and was gathered by Gerken. At the other end, City forced a rare corner and Hartley’s flag kick was met by Elliott, whose header was comfortably saved by Camp.

The deadlock was eventually broken five minutes from time. Gunter whipped a free kick into the mix from the right flank and Morgan emerged from the pack to slam the ball high into the roof of the net from eight yards out. Earnshaw had an opportunity to put the home side further clear a minute later, but sent his shot into the crowd. City were level four minutes later, Haynes racing through the middle to collect Hartley's defence-splitting pass and beat Camp with a sure-footed shot to register his third goal of the season and earn the visitors the point they so richly deserved.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Forest (4-2-1-3): Camp; Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Cohen; McKenna, Moussi; Makewski (Adebola 57); Garner (McCleary 65), McGoldrick, Anderson.

City (4-3-3): Gerken; Skuse, Carey, Nyatanga, McAllister (Clarkson 80); Elliott, Hartley, Sno (Williams 59), Haynes, Maynard, Saborio (McCombe 70).

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)