Nottingham Forest reach play-off places with confident win at rivals Blackburn

Posted Thursday, February 10, 2022 by PA

James Garner’s first-half strike and Brennan Johnson’s penalty helped Nottingham Forest move into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places after they ran out 2-0 winners over 10-man Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Manchester United loanee Garner grabbed the first goal when he slotted past Thomas Kaminski and matters were made even worse for the home side when Darragh Lenihan was brandished a red card early in the second half.

Johnson’s penalty in the final minutes made sure Forest took all three points back to the East Midlands while Blackburn fell out of the promotion spots.

The first real chance of the game fell to Rovers as a lovely free-kick fell into the path of John Buckley, but his initial shot was saved by Brice Samba before Ben Brereton Diaz from the narrowest of angles saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line by Scott McKenna.

The visitors were next to come forward and almost had the breakthrough when Keinan Davis’ cross-cum-shot fell to Max Lowe, whose effort crashed into the side netting, much to the disappointment of the travelling Reds supporters.

Forest had the opener in the 22nd minute through Garner as Davis charged into the Rovers half to slip in his team-mate for a cool finish past Thomas Kaminski.

Three minutes before the break Blackburn countered with Joe Rothwell, who rushed into the area before his cross was cut out by Steve Cook before it could reach Brereton Diaz, there waiting to tap into an empty net.

Aston Villa loanee Davis terrorised the Blackburn defence throughout the first half and nearly rounded off a perfect display when he fired over the crossbar after a superb solo run.

Blackburn were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute when defender Darragh Lenihan was shown a second yellow card for lunging in on Jack Colback.

The game opened up following the sending-off and Blackburn almost had an equaliser from a swift breakaway as Sam Gallagher saw his shot blocked by McKenna.

Seconds later, Forest nearly doubled their advantage but Johnson was denied by Kaminski.

The 10 men of Blackburn found another gear after the red card and were arguably the better side, with substitute Tyrhys Dolan hanging the ball into the box but Gallagher failing to guide his header past Samba.

Against the run of play Johnson broke forward but his shot was saved by Kaminski and Sam Surridge’s follow-up effort went a whisker wide of the far post.

Chile international Brereton Diaz’s deflected effort fell kindly into the grateful hands of Samba between the Forest sticks.

Forest rubber-stamped the three points with a 90th-minute penalty which Johnson smashed home after Surridge was brought down by Jan Paul Van Hecke inside the area.