Nottingham Forest threw away a 3-0 lead at Norwich to end their Boxing Day meeting level at Carrow Road. Their goals came from Jack Robinson and a Matty Cash brace, but City scored three second-half goals to finish the game 3-3. Aitor Karanka took a lot of flak from supporters for taking off two of Forest’s most influential players before Norwich began their comeback.
Just got back from Norwich……..not sure what happened 3-0 up cruising could have been 4/5-nil then it all goes a bit bleary somehow it ends up 3-3 ?????? did I dream it ???? In my humble opinion taking cash and grabban off lost us the 3pts but hey it’s only my opinion #nffc
— nffc1969 (@nffc1969) December 26, 2018
Taking Grabban and Cash off was bizarre.
— Alex (@Leshington) December 26, 2018
Why doesn’t any manager take the flak? He decided to ruin our rhythm going forward by taking off grabban and cash and instead play Murphy who can’t even hold the ball up now and Diaz who just didn’t look bothered. His negative tactics at the end threw the game away. Joke
— NFFCforever (@NFFC81) December 26, 2018
Two bad substations bringing Dias and Murphy on for Cash and Grabban cost us points today
— stephen lane (@stevelane44) December 26, 2018
You take grabban off who can score and take cash off who was on fire, not impressed karanka you tactical genius #nffc
— Andrew Butters (@andybutts1964) December 26, 2018
That’s exactly what I said! Absolute disgrace! No need to take Cash off! No need to take Grabban off! Robinson was walking a tightrope but he would have lasted! ???????????????? #nffc
— Olly Bausor (@OllyBausor) December 26, 2018
Lewis Grabban was first substituted in the 70th minute for Daryl Murphy before Matty Cash was replaced by Gil Dias in the 82nd minute. The decision backfired heavily, however, as Forest fell to two injury time goals and didn’t have enough creativity on the pitch to threaten at the other end.
Karanka‘s men were 2-0 up when Grabban was taken off, and they scored a third through Cash minutes later. Even after Cash was hooked off, Forest went into injury time with a 3-1 lead so few could have foreseen their collapse, even though they were under pressure. Onel Hernandez scored twice in the dying moments, however, to rescue a point for the hosts.
The result leaves Forest 10th in the Championship table with 36 points from 24 games, having gone four without a win. The Reds next travel to face Millwall on December 29.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Nottingham Forest should sign winger in January, Karanka needs creativity – opinion
