Conservatism wins out as Forest and Birmingham share the Boxing Day spoils

Nottingham Forest’s mini-revival in form helped them to pick up another point and a clean sheet as they avoided a potential banana skin with ex-manager Aitor Karanka returning to The City Ground on Boxing Day.

Though there were pleasing aspects for both Chris Hughton and Karanka to take away from the game, for supporters watching at home, particularly those of Nottingham Forest, there was frustration that their side couldn’t produce greater festive cheer with a second successive home victory. Blues fans will have at least been pleased to have stemmed the flow of three successive defeats.

Forest started the brighter of the sides with speculative long-range efforts from Sammy Ameobi and Ryan Yates in the opening moments with Blues keeper Neil Etheridge making a hash of the latter’s shot as he spilt a tame looking effort around the post.

Yates had Forest’s best chance of the half and should have put the Reds ahead following some good approach play. Yuri Ribeiro picked out Lewis Grabban in the box and as the striker’s knockdown bounced perfectly for Yates, the youngster’s effort was too close to Etheridge as he palmed the ball to safety.  

With Forest having the better of the possession, they struggled to find the breakthrough. Ameobi couldn’t get enough on a left-footed strike to trouble Etheridge once more and Cafu, the appointed set-piece taker in the absence of Joe Lolley and Anthony Knockaert, couldn’t get consistency in his deliveries to cause any real danger in the Blues defence.

Whilst Birmingham looked generally toothless at the other end, Alen Halilovic, the Croatian playmaker making his first start for the Blues, showed some glimpses of his quality on the ball.

In one first-half moment, the midfielder pirouetted onto a pass, leaving two Forest players in his wake before hitting a superb cross-field pass all in one movement. Halilovic certainly looks one to keep an eye on with his natural ability to glide with the ball in possession.

Birmingham lacked any real cohesion in the first period, ironically, it was an enforced substitution at half time that changed the complexion of the game. With Gary Gardner replacing the injured Halilovic, the Blues looked far brighter in midfield and started to win the tug of war with their counterparts in red.

With Forest seemingly content to rest on their laurels of a reasonable first-half display, Birmingham carved out a number of second-half opportunities that would have left Aitor Karanka feeling a little unfortunate that his side couldn’t have nicked a win.

Ivan Sunjic should have made Forest goalkeeper, Brice Samba work harder with a low struck shot as teammate Scott Hogan looked a better option unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

Samba was certainly the busiest of the two keepers and he was called into action in quick succession, recovering well to parry away Jérémie Bela’s effort from the edge of the box, having initially punched Adam Clayton’s long free-kick straight to the winger.

The keeper had certainly gotten away with his unconvincing decision to come flying out of goal in the first instance.

As Forest struggled to regain their foothold in the game, Birmingham continued to grow in confidence. Some excellent work from Hogan brought about the Blues brightest moment of the game.

Following some exemplary hold up play to hold off the close attentions of Tobias Figueiredo, Ivan Sanchez picked up his pass and moved towards the Forest box. As the Spanish winger cut infield to evade a couple of challenges, his curling shot was once again well saved by Samba as Forest’s defence had been opened up.

With the Blues threatening to get well on top, Chris Hughton, who has been criticised by certain sections of the Forest supporters to use his substitutes more often, brought on Lyle Taylor, Knockaert and Lolley for the final quarter of proceedings, with Grabban deployed in a more unfamiliar number ten role.

Despite the bold substitutions and injection of proven quality, Forest still couldn’t find any real momentum; lacking rhythm and fluidity in their play.

Their best chance to win it came in the final moments as Joe Worrall found his defensive partner, Figueiredo inside the box but as the big defender adjusted his footing to get a shot away, Birmingham’s goalkeeper Etheridge did well to save with his feet.

With Forest’s best chances of the game falling to Yates and Figueiredo, it perhaps sums up nicely why they continue to struggle in front of goal. With almost an embarrassment of riches in their forward positions, those players are not making the impact on games that Hughton would like.

Whilst an early goal would have certainly settled the nerves, Forest’s play was often lacking in quality, pedestrian at times or too easy to read from a defensive perspective.

Lacking spontaneity in the middle of the pitch, wingers Sammy Ameobi and Alex Mighten both also had quiet games on either flank. Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor weren’t presented with any clear cut opportunities.  They say Rome wasn’t built in a day and despite fans frustrations, Forest have a new manager that has inherited personnel which might not all be to his preference.

“We have a big squad but it’s about trying to get the right balance. The area that we have talked  most about is getting those goals.”

If we are able to bring in one or two fresh faces, it can change the dynamic of the squad”.

“I feel that we needed to do more for that breakthrough, show a bit more on the ball and be a bit braver on the ball to get us into those positions.”

Whilst performances aren’t at the level he would like in an attacking sense, Hughton will be delighted that his side picked up another clean sheet, their second in three games.

Having decided on a defence which is four-fifths the same that had developed a reputation as being one of the meanest in the division last season, Hughton has at least a platform to build from.

Cyrus Christie has improved defensively and both Yuri Ribeiro and Samba Sow’s return to first-team action has helped to strengthen Forest’s resolve. Travelling to Stoke on Tuesday evening, Hughton will hope that his side can continue the improvement in results.

Blues boss Aitor Karanka will have been the happier of the two managers on reflection and slightly disappointed that his team couldn’t secure a win on his return to The City Ground.  Having conceded eight goals in their last three games, to keep a clean sheet and come away with a draw was the most pleasing aspect in Karanka’s post-match assessment.

“I think we grew through the game, in the second-half we were better. It is true that at the beginning of the game [we weren’t as good] because of the last three games for us. The main thing today was to not make the mistakes of the last three games and then, when we were really organised and consistent on the pitch, in the second-half we played better. We were more confident, and we played better.”

With Derby County next up at St.Andrews, Karanka will be keen to reap the full benefits of a deserved point following a spirited showing at The City Ground.

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