Nottingham Forest played host to fellow promotion hopefuls Brighton & Hove Albion in the Championship this afternoon, looking to cement their position in the playoffs.
The hosts dominated a goalless first half, but fell behind early in the second when Leonardo Ulloa found the net for Brighton.
Forest hit back late in the game through substitute Lewis McGugan, only to fall behind against moments later thanks to Will Buckley's strike.
However, Henri Lansbury forced a howler out of Brighton keeper Casper Ankergren in the final minute to ensure that the spoils were shared.
Find out how all the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Championship contest between Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion. There is just under an hour to go before kickoff, but we'll have all the build-up for you right here.
This is a huge game for both these promotion hopefuls. Fifth-placed Forest are looking to cement their position inside the playoff places, while Brighton in seventh could climb into them with a victory here today. You can see how they stand before kickoff here.
Forest have been in scintillating form since Billy Davies returned to the club, winning their last six on the spin. A victory today would see them equal the best winning streak in their history, accomplished during the days of Brian Clough.
Brighton can leapfrog Leicester City and Forest if they pick up maximum points here today. Gus Poyet's side have won six of their last 10 matches, but are prone to inconsistent patches. However, they did defeat fellow promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace 3-0 in their last league outing.
Team news incoming...
FOREST: Darlow, Hutchinson, Ward, Collins, Cohen, Majewski, Guedioura, Lansbury, Reid, Henderson, Cox
SUBS: Evtimov, Moussi, McGugan, Halford, Blackstock, Sharp, Jara
SUBS: Evtimov, Moussi, McGugan, Halford, Blackstock, Sharp, Jara
Davies has chosen to keep the faith in in-form attacking duo Simon Cox and Darius Henderson, while Henri Lansbury has passed a late fitness test to make the starting XI.
BRIGHTON: Ankergren, Calderon, Upson, Greer, Bridge; Crofts, David, Orlandi; Buckley, LuaLua, Ulloa
SUBS: Brezovan, Dunk, Painter, Hammond, Dicker, Vicente, Barker
SUBS: Brezovan, Dunk, Painter, Hammond, Dicker, Vicente, Barker
Poyet is still without Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith, but Leonardo Ulloa leading the Brighton attack is in top form at the moment.
If history tells us anything, it's that matches between these two are difficult to call. Forest have managed to score just once against Brighton in their last four attempts, but the Seagulls have won only once in nine visits to the City Ground.
There have been 25 league meetings between the two teams, only four of which have been decided by more than a single goal. With these stats and Forest's current form in mind, my prediction is 2-1 to the hosts.
An interesting quote from Forest's on-loan striker Billy Sharp has just come to my attention. He believes that today's clash is their biggest game of the season...
"We keep saying it, but this is probably the biggest game of the season so far. Brighton are one point behind us and if we can win we’ll have a bit of a cushion and we can start playing under a little less pressure.
"We have been under pressure in just about every game up to now to keep chasing the pack but, now we’re there, it’s important we stay in the playoff spots."
And here's a pre-match quote from Brighton's Will Buckley, who believes that the international break has benefited his team...
"As a squad we were getting a bit fatigued and the break came at a good time for us with this massive playoff game coming up at Forest.
"It will be built up as a promotion six pointer so we will be going there to get the three points. It is a huge game and everyone knows it so we have to go in fully committed and we need the win.
"Forest have won a few games in a row so we know it will be difficult but these are the games you want to be involved in if you want to be up there, and we are looking forward to it."
Brighton start the afternoon just one point behind today's opponents, so the importance of this fixture cannot be overstated. A defeat for either team would be a huge setback in their promotion push.
Almost a full house here at the City Ground. Brighton have brought plenty of supporters with them too. The two teams are heading out onto the pitch...
We are underway here at the City Ground.
The home side win an early free kick as Adlene Guedioura goes down under Andrew Crofts's challenge. Sam Hutchinson steps up to take it, but it comes to nothing.
Forest are the first to venture into the opponent's half as Andy Reid plays a low cross into the box. Croft stands tall and hacks the ball clear.
SHOT! Forest claim their first shot on target through Henri Lansbury. He produces a volley from 18 yards out, forcing Casper Ankergren into a save.
Ankergren has been the busier of the two keepers in these early stages. He's just been called into action to collect a cross from Andy Reid.
SHOT! More Forest chances go begging as Adlene Guedioura shoots wide from just outside the box. Andrea Orlandi produces a cross at the other end moments later, forcing Chris Cohen to make the clearance.
CHANCE! Darius Henderson lets fly from 25 yards, forcing Ankergren into another save. An Andy Reid effort sails over shortly afterwards.
BOOKING: Danny Collins is booked for going in studs-first on Jose Ulloa. That should perhaps have been a red in my opinion. If it was any worse, the Brighton man could well be going off injured.
It's been a fierce contest at the City Ground, with hard tackles coming in across the pitch. Henderson has just pole-axed Gordon Greer, handing Brighton a free kick in their own area, which Ankergren will take.
Forest have been on top for much of this first half and look the most likely to break the deadlock. Ankergren has pulled off a string of good saves to keep his side in the game, while Darlow between the home sticks has barely touched the ball.
CHANCE! Forest come within inches of taking the lead as Darius Henderson shrugs off his marker and shoots towards goal. Casper Ankergren parries the effort and Brighton clear the danger. Another let-off for the Seagulls!
More pressure from Forest as Radoslaw Majewski whips in a dangerous cross, which Ankergren claims. They also threatened through an Andy Reid corner moments earlier, forcing Matthew Upson to head clear. Not much to report on at the other end, besides a Kazenga LuaLua cross that ended up in no man's land.
Half-chance for Brighton! Moreno David Lopez drills in a right-footed effort from 20 yards, but Danny Collins produces a vital block and Forest clear the danger.
Brighton are at least putting the visitors under some pressure now. LuaLua has just sent another lofted pass into the danger zone, which Karl Darlow claims without too much difficulty.
BOOKING: Tensions are boiling over here. LuaLua is shown the yellow card for reacting angrily to a challenge by Hutchinson. There was no malice in the Forest defender's challenge, so that was a senseless booking.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
It's been an entertaining first half at the City Ground, but there are no goals to speak of. Forest have had the better of the possession and will be wondering just how Brighton managed to keep them out.
I'd say that man Casper Ankergren has had something to do with it. He's pulled off a string of impressive saves to keep his side in the game, particularly when he denied Henderson around the half-hour mark.
Forest claimed 61% of the possession in the first period and had five shots on goal, compared to Brighton's one. That has been a fair reflection of the game so far.
If things continue as they are, I can't see it being too long before Forest break the deadlock. Brighton's best hope looks to be on the counterattack, so the hosts will need to stay on their toes at the back too, and not let the frustration get to them.
It's been something of a hot-tempered affair. Collins should perhaps have been given his marching orders for that bad tackle on Ulloa, and LuaLua almost received his for lashing out on Hutchinson on the stroke of half time. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we see a red in the second period.
We are back under way here at the City Ground. Can Forest turn their possession into anything of substance in the second period? I'm not betting against them!
CHANCE! Brighton are quick off the starting blocks in the second period as Buckley surges forward and fires a low cross across the face of goal, which cannons off a red shirt and ends up behind for a corner.
SHOT! Ulloa gains possession in the danger zone and gets in behind Ward, but the Argentine shoots wide with only Darlow to beat. That was the visitor's best chance of the game so far!
Brighton have started the second half much more positively than they ended the first. They've already had twice as many attempts on goal than they did in the first 45 minutes. Can they punish Forest for their wastefulness?
BRIGHTON SUB: Hammond comes on to replace LuaLua. Looks like Poyet doesn't want to risk the striker picked up a second yellow at this crucial time of the season.
I think the frustration is started to get to Forest. A half-chance has just fallen to Andy Reid, but he put it well over the bar and almost out of the stadium.
CHANCE! So close for Brighton! Orlandi curles a dangerous free kick into the box, which Darlow parries. It falls kindly for Ulloa, but his effort is hacked off the line!
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Ulloa)
What an excellent start it has been to this second half for Brighton! Moments after Leonardo Ulloa was denied on the goalline, the resultant corner falls invitingly for him in the box, and he finds the bottom corner from close range to put his side 1-0 up.
BOOKING: Ankergren is shown a yellow card for timewasting. He is obviously content to sit on this lead, and who can blame him?
SAVE! Fantastic reaction strop from Darlow! Calderon heads Dean Hammond's deflected cross towards goal, but the Forest keeper was equal to his dipping effort, despite having little time to react.
I don't know what Gus Poyet said to his side at half time, but it seems to have done the trick. They have run riot in this second half, which has been almost a mirror opposite of the opening 45 minutes.
FOREST SUB: Gonzalo Jara Reyes comes on in place of Sam Hutchinson as Billy Davies looks to stop this game from slipping away.
CHANCE! Ulloa causes havoc among the Forest rear guard, squeezing in between two defenders. He turns in the area and lets fly, but his effort goes over the crossbar.
Calderon swings in a cross, but Forest clear the danger and break, only for their attack to break down when Guedioura goes down injured. McGugan has replaced Majewski for the hosts to bolster their attack when play resumes.
CHANCE! Forest's best chance of the second half comes as Reid supplies a pinpoint cross for Henderson to strike towards goal, but Ankergren tips it behind. The resultant corner is headed over the bar by Ward.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (McGugan)
Forest draw level through McGugan to set up a tense finish! The substitute latched onto through ball and beat Ankergren from a tight angle with the aid of a deflection off Wayne Bridge.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion(Buckley)
There's another twist in this one as Brighton come off the back foot to snatch the lead through Will Buckley. The ball fell to him inside the box, and he confidently placed one beyond Darlow into the back of the net!
CHANCE! Forest come close to an equaliser as Cox picks up Lewis McGugan and has a crack at goal. His effort takes a wicked deflection but ends up wide. That would certainly have caused Ankergren some grief had it been on target.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (Lansbury)
Sensational scenes at the City Ground as Forest bag a late equaliser through Henri Lansbury! It's an absolute howler from Ankergren, who fails to hold the midfielder's tame shot. It goes straight through his body and into the net!
FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Nervous about the result? Want to 'Cash in your bet'? See how with William Hill.
What an incredible second half that was! Forest twice come from behind to snatch a point and both teams end up in the playoff places after the final whistle.
You have to feel for Ankergren after that second goal. He was superb all afternoon, and then a critical error in the final minute costs his side a vital victory.
That's all from me here today. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this crunch Championship clash. You can read our full match report here.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
