Grabban and Carvalho ensure Forest end poor run against Wednesday

Posted Thursday, September 20, 2018 by PA

Nottingham Forest ended their dismal record against Sheffield Wednesday with a 2-1 win at the City Ground.

The Owls had beaten Forest in their last seven league meetings, including four wins here, but Jos Luhukay’s side were beaten following goals either side of half-time from Lewis Grabban and Joao Carvalho.

Aitor Karanka’s Reds were in need of a win, following a flurry of five draws in their first seven Championship outings, along with one victory and a single defeat.

But this was no more than they deserved, as they limited their visitors to only a few sights of goal, even if substitute Steven Fletcher’s 88th-minute strike ensured a nervous finish.

Forest could have taken the lead 15 seconds in. Grabban forced a mistake from the Owls defence and crossed into the centre for Matty Cash, who had time and space but sent a panicked left-foot shot high and wide.

Wednesday hit back as Adam Reach struck a powerful low shot from 25 yards, but Costel Pantilimon got behind it well to save.

The visitors might have taken the lead when a good move finished with Morgan Fox crossing into the centre for an unmarked Marco Matias – but his header was off target.

Forest hit back instantly as Cash drove down the right and forced an alert near-post save from Cameron Dawson with a driven shot from a tight angle.

Grabban sent a spectacular volley rising just over the bar following good work from Saidy Janko.

Grabban then planted a header just wide of the post and was appealing for a penalty in the aftermath, claiming that he had been held back as the home side began to build some pressure.

Forest did take the lead in the 41st minute. Ben Osborn bent in a delicious free-kick which Grabban attacked to steer home, amid a melee of bodies, from a few yards out.

Forest almost had a second a minute later, but Cash’s brave header cleared the angle of post and bar.

Atdhe Nuhiu, who had seen a first-half effort ruled out for offside, almost struck early in the second but saw Pantilimon bravely save at his feet before he could get a shot away.

Carvalho sent Osborn racing clear at the other end, yet Dawson made a strong save to keep Forest out.

Seconds later, in the 63rd minute, the two players combined brilliantly again, exchanging passes twice, with Osborn back-heeling the ball into the path of Carvalho, who conjured up a sublime finish, curling beyond the reach of Dawson and inside the far post.

Pantilimon made a save to keep out a free-kick from Barry Bannan look easy. But he could not stop a late effort from Fletcher following a deflection which left the goalkeeper flatfooted as it bounced in.