‘Greatest individual performance’ – Nottingham Forest man lauded by some fans after 5-5 draw

Joe Lolley was outstanding for Nottingham Forest in Wednesday’s 5-5 draw with Aston Villa, scoring one goal and making four assists at Villa Park. He’s been in fine form of most of the season, being named PFA Championship Player of the Month in October, and supporters were absolutely delighted with his latest performance.

Lolley, who has now contributed 12 goals in 15 Championship starts this season, had a hand in every Forest goal in mid-week. The 26-year-old set up Lewis Grabban to open the scoring in the third minute (0-1) and assisted Joao Carvalho in the sixth minute to double the visitors’ advantage (0-2).

Aston Villa fought back with two goals from Tammy Abraham in the first quarter of an hour (2-2), but Lolley helped to restore Forest’s lead by assisting Matty Cash in the 22^nd minute (2-3). And after Abraham sealed his hat-trick after 36 minutes to level the game before the break (3-3), Lolley turned goalscorer in the second-half to put Aitor Karanka’s men ahead again (3-4).

A quickfire double from Abraham in the 74^th minute and Anwar El Ghazi in the 75^th minute turned the game on its head (5-4) but Forest equalised late on through Grabban (5-5), with Lolley grabbing his fourth assist. He was disappointed for his efforts not helping Forest pick up all three points, but Lolley should be proud of his own performance.

Crippy Cooke’s previous article