Nottingham Forest vs Charlton Athletic. Sky Bet Championship.
The City GroundAttendance28,029.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at the City Ground
Wednesday 12 February 2020 09:07, UK
Charlton boosted their fight against Sky Bet Championship relegation with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Sabri Lamouchi's Reds came into the game on a high, having enhanced their promotion credentials with a 2-0 win over Leeds.
But a side that included five changes were unable to turn things around after Lyle Taylor had put Charlton ahead in the 24th minute.
Charlton had not won in 12 previous away games, but held on for three precious points, with keeper Dillon Phillips making strong saves during the 90 minutes to deny Tiago Silva and Tyler Walker, while Walker was also denied by the woodwork.
Forest will hope for a better performance when they head to face Championship leaders West Brom on Saturday. Charlton will hope this is the start of a push towards a healthier position in mid-table, after frustrating Forest yet again.
Alfie Doughty's fizzing low cross needed a potentially goal-saving, determined clearance, in front of goal from Forest defender Joe Worrall, as Charlton made a bright start.
Forest were failing to turn moments of menace into chances, while keeper Brice Samba had to make a smart save to keep out a sharp effort from Doughty, which was bound for the top corner.
Silva forced a save from Phillips with a smart shot on the turn at the other end.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 24th minute, through a well-crafted goal. Naby Sarr snatched a pass off the toes of Joe Lolley before bursting into space on the left and delivering an inch-perfect cross to the far post, where Taylor was arriving to apply a confident finish.
Forest were nearly level a minute later when Sarr almost netted a spectacular own goal as he attempted to clear a Jenkinson cross, with only a superb save from Phillips saving his blushes. Silva again went close with a low foot that skimmed wide of the post.
Tyler Walker, on his first start since returning from a loan spell at Lincoln, was denied by the post after connecting with an Adama Diakhaby cross.
Forest toiled for an equaliser after the break with Lolley seeing a shot charged down in the box. When Lolley fed the overlapping Carl Jenkinson in the box, Phillips was quick off his line to claim the ball at his feet.
When sub Matty Cash fired the ball into the centre from the right, Walker connected with a first time shot from eight yards, but saw Phillips equal to it again, as he produced another strong save.
Nottingham Forest's Sabri Lamouchi: "The best team won. We gave them one chance in the first half and they scored. We did not create a lot. It was a bad performance. It was probably my mistake. Grabban did not play because he had a problem in his knee, like Samba Sow and Sammy Ameobi. (Leaving out) Cashy and Yuri was a mistake. Not because of who played instead, but because we did not keep the dynamic we had.
"This was absolutely different to a few days ago (when Forest beat Leeds). There was no rhythm, no fight and not the same spirit. We made a lot of mistakes. We played slowly. Charlton played well and deserved to win. The best team won tonight. "This was my mistake. I changed things because we have a lot of games. We did not want to take a risk with anyone today. But I take responsibility, absolutely. This was completely different to a few days ago. A bad performance, a bad result and, one more time, a big opportunity missed."
Charlton's Lee Bowyer: "We had not won away since August, but that sounds worse that the situation actually is. We picked up a lot of injuries. That is why that happened. We have been in every game, largely. But this puts us three points closer to the target we need. People had written us off and said that we were going to go down. I have said all along that I believe in this group of players. They will keep fighting, I know that. I will keep pushing them.
"With our fans behind us, I know we have a good group here, and a good chance. There are 14 or 15 games left and there will be twists and turns. There are teams above us who will get sucked into it, I believe that."
