Nottingham Forest salvaged a point in what was a dramatic and incident-packed Premier League clash against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
Forest went into the game knowing that all three points would lift them off the bottom of the table for at least a couple of hours ahead of Leicester City’s 5:30pm kick off against Everton. They were on their way off the foot of the Premier League when Morgan Gibbs-White scored his first goal for the club in the 20th minute of the game.
But the big talking point of the clash came just before the half time break, when Dean Henderson was adjudged to have fouled Yohan Wissa. The penalty was given after a long VAR check, with Forest feeling hard done by after shouts of their own were waved away.
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After Bryan Mbeumo scored from the spot, Wissa himself may have thought he’d secured all three points for Forest. But Steve Cooper ’s men had other ideas when a last ditch scramble in the box led to an own goal by Mathias Jorgensen.
The morning after the game, the national media had their say on the action on the pitch. Here’s just a preview of what was written about the goals and a certain VAR decision.
The Guardian , PA
A stoppage-time own goal from Mathias Jørgensen allowed Nottingham Forest to steal a draw with Brentford in a game with yet more VAR controversy. Jørgensen saw a clearance deflected off him and cross the line in the sixth minute of injury time to earn Forest a deserved point. The hosts had looked like ending up empty-handed as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa put Brentford on course for a first away win of the season after Morgan Gibbs-White had put Forest ahead.
But Mbeumo’s goal on the stroke of half-time was contentious as it came from the penalty spot. The referee, Andre Marriner, eventually ruled Dean Henderson fouled Wissa after checking it on the pitchside monitor, even though the goalkeeper appeared to have played the ball.
Forest’s sense of injustice, with two credible penalty shouts ignored by VAR, was heightened when Wissa scored with 15 minutes remaining but there was one moment of drama left with Jørgensen’s own goal awarded by goalline technology.
The Daily Mail , Aadam Patel
Sometimes you just need a slice of luck and just when Nottingham Forest looked dead and buried and on their way to yet another defeat, a Brentford clearance hit Zanka and sneaked over the line in the 96th minute to cue wild celebrations from the home support. It may have only earned them a point but the equaliser was celebrated like a winner in these parts.
For all the excitement that came with promotion from the Championship, Forest are struggling and this was yet another reminder of how tough this league can be. Forest were much the better side but ultimately undone by two moments where they lapsed in concentration and looked set to be on their way to a ninth defeat in 14 league games when Thomas Frank’s side came back from behind to lead at the City Ground …
…Without Ivan Toney, who was out suspended, the visitors evidently lacked a focal point up front and someone to hole the ball up but Forest were left to rue their missed opportunities on the brink of half time when out of nothing, Bryan Mbuemo’s first time ball found a sharp Yoanne Wissa. Wissa fell as he tried to go round Dean Henderson and referee Andre Marinner was sent to the VAR monitor.
And after a lengthy wait, the referee changed his decision and awarded a Brentford penalty, much to uproar from the home crowd who had seen an earlier decision not go their way when Ryan Yates wasn’t awarded a penalty for what looked like an apparent push by Josh Dasilva.
The Telegraph , John Percy
Forest had been impressive in the first half, taking the lead through record £25 million signing Morgan Gibbs-White, before Marriner and Var took centre stage.
Steve Cooper and his players had already been angered by a number of decisions, after two incidents involving Emmanuel Dennis and Ryan Yates in the Brentford penalty area went unpunished.
Their frustration increased in first-half injury time when Yoane Wissa fell under the challenge of Dean Henderson as he attempted to round the Forest goalkeeper.
Replays suggested Henderson had touched the ball but, after a Var check proved inconclusive, Marriner reviewed the incident and sparked a furious reaction from Forest’s players by awarding a penalty. Bryan Mbeumo stroked his third goal of the season.
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