Lewis Grabban’s future as a regular starter is quickly running out but he still has time to turn it around

After a year of being Nottingham Forest’s preferred striker, time as a regular start seems to be running out.

The forward, who has been the preferred option in attack ever since signing in 2018, is under growing pressure from Forest fans after failing to score in nine league matches.

Since the beginning of last season, the former Premier League forward has failed to make the squad in just three appearances, while sitting on the bench a further two times.

But with no goals to his name yet in the 2020-21 season – and no goals at all since July 2020 in a 1-1 draw at Preston North End – the pressure is rapidly growing on the 32-year-old.

You could argue, his successes earlier in his Forest career have set the level of expectations too high.

When Grabban first joined the Reds in 2018, it took him until his eighth game, against Sheffield Wednesday, to net his first goal. From then, however, he enjoyed an excellent run of scoring 14 goals in 13 league matches.

His form continued into last season, waiting until just the second Championship fixture, away to Leeds, to break his duck. In his 45 Championship appearances, the 32-year-old netted 20 goals, becoming the first Forest forward to achieve such a tally since the days of David Johnson and Marlon Harewood in 2002-03.

One of last season’s major downfalls for Forest, though, was their huge reliance on Grabban. Of the Reds’ goals last season, Grabban netted 35 per cent of them. When he was not hitting top gear, Forest were clearly affected. In the 30 league games Grabban did not score, Forest won just eight of them – but when Grabban scored, they were unbeaten.

That reliance on just one striker instigated a search for additional options to be deployed at the City Ground. After weeks of speculation, that hunt materialised in the signing of former Charlton Athletic forward Lyle Taylor under the now-former boss, Sabri Lamouchi.

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Such a signing would normally motivate a player to succeed. It would add pressure upon Grabban’s shoulders – no longer is he regarded as the solitary option in attack, he has competition for the starting position.

But rather surprisingly, he has continued to be the more commonly utilised option, as well as being given responsibility as captain.

But after a ninth consecutive game without scoring, time seems to be running out for the experienced forward.

In Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers, Grabban missed multiple chances. His first one, from a low, fizzed Luke Freeman cross, he failed to muster enough power on a spinning strike.

His best chance, however, came around the hour-mark when he failed to connect with a teasing right-wing cross from Joe Lolley.

It was a similar story for the 32-year-old during the home tie with Rotherham United, with him having two missed chances after just 15 minutes. First, a Sammy Ameobi cross from the left was just out of reach, before Grabban failed to control Lolley’s recycled cross – eventually, the shot was stabbed wide by Ryan Yates.

For Grabban, his misfortune is simply that. It is a lack of confidence and poor luck. To claim that it is from a lack of effort would be harsh and, arguably, untrue. Throughout Tuesday’s night under the lights, he clearly showed a desire to get forward and score, but a breakdown in communications with midfield struggled to create many clear-cut chances.

When he was in a good position to score, though, he let himself down. His best chance, with seven minutes left and the scores level, was one you would normally hedge your bets on him to score. From Harry Arter’s defence-splitting pass, the striker rounded Rotherham ‘keeper Jamal Blackman but, from ten yards, his off-target effort struck the side netting.

Despite his poor run of form, boss Chris Hughton is hopeful his form will turn around sooner rather than later.

Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw, he said: “He needs a goal. Somebody like Lewis, an experienced striker, will have had good and bad periods.

“I don’t think he is the type of individual where a period of not scoring will affect him.

“I am quite sure he will always be putting himself in the position, on every occasion, to try and score the next one.”

But the simple task of just scoring a goal comes as no easy feat with Forest’s busy schedule of fixtures. The Reds take on East Midlands rivals Derby County at the City Ground on Friday night, before trips to Luton Town and Middlesbrough.

On paper, a home tie with County could come at no better time. Rams boss Phillip Cocu is coming under increasing pressure at Pride Park and a team lacking defensive solidity – they have conceded ten goals so far this season, including a 4-0 home defeat to Blackburn – could provide a great opportunity to Grabban.

It may be that time is running out for Grabban, but a goal in Forest’s next match – against a club whom he has scored four goals against in ten appearances – could provide him with the confidence boost he so desperately needs.

If he doesn’t, the card to start Taylor may be forced into Chris Hughton’s playing hand.

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