Leicester strike late to dent Forest’s top-five hopes

Nottingham Forest missed the opportunity to move into the Champions League positions as they conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw against rivals Leicester.

Argentina midfielder Facundo Buonanotte scored with eight minutes left on the clock to earn a point for the Foxes, who are already relegated.

Goals from striker Chris Wood and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White had turned the game in Forest’s favour, after Conor Coady had given the Foxes the lead in the first half with his first Premier League goal for the club.

Victory would have enabled Forest to capitalise on Chelsea’s defeat by fellow Champions League hopefuls Newcastle earlier in the day.

But a draw leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in seventh spot, one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was in attendance at the City Ground and, clearly furious about the result, made his way on to the pitch to speak to manager Nuno Espirito Santo at full-time.

After three defeats in their past five, Forest couldn’t afford anything less than victory against Leicester.

It was a must-win before Chelsea lost at St James’ Park, but the Blues’ loss meant Forest’s Champions League aspirations were in their own hands.

Simply, three wins from their final three fixtures would have earned Champions League football.

The intent was there from kick-off, with Anthony Elanga creating two good openings for Wood in the opening four minutes.

They were precisely the sort of chances that Wood was taking in a flash earlier in the season, when much was being made of Forest’s clinical nature in front of goal.

The goals have dried up in recent weeks though, with the Kiwi scoring just once in 10 appearances before this game.

When Coady headed in an opener, it felt like the day could quickly turn against Forest.

But their response was spirited – and they deserved to lead when Wood headed in from Ola Aina’s cross in the second half following Morgan Gibbs-White’s equaliser.

But there was a touch of immaturity about the way Forest not only conceded an equaliser, but the manner in which they played out the final minutes in pursuit of a winner.

Buonanotte slalomed through Forest’s defence to tuck in an equaliser but there were still 16 minutes left when the eight minutes of added time were factored in.

Forest piled forward in search of a winner – as you would expect – but it was Leicester who looked more threatening, and who twice could have snatched victory.

It was a desperately demoralising result for Forest, who now have to rely on results elsewhere to go their way if they’re to qualify for the Champions League.

No Leicester City supporter needs to be told that this display of fighting spirit has come too late into the season.

The sole aim this season was to survive – and they didn’t.

But there has been a notable uptick in performances in recent weeks.

The spirit was there when relegation was confirmed in a narrow defeat by Liverpool in mid-April and in the draw with Brighton a week earlier.

Last week’s win against Southampton clearly injected a bit of confidence into the group and they weathered an early storm at the City Ground to dispel any suggestions that they would roll over for Forest.

That Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side took the lead after that was a reward for digging in and not letting Forest’s quick start overwhelm them.

It came through a stroke of fortune, when Matz Sels spilled a powerful effort from Bilal El Khannouss to allow Coady to score.

Gibbs-White’s equaliser came thanks to some slack marking at the front post, while there was little that could have been done to stop Wood’s emphatic header.

What would have pleased Van Nistelrooy even more was the way Leicester remained in the game and Buonanotte’s equaliser was the highlight of an otherwise difficult season for the Argentine.

The visitors then had the chance to nick all three points, but the side had already answered Van Nistelrooy’s pleas to show the fighting spirit that they’ll need to bounce back from the Championship next season.