Brennan Johnson stunner lifts Nottingham Forest to within reaching distance of the Championship play-offs

Hull City were defeated 2-1 by high-flying Nottingham Forest who now sit just a point outside the play-offs.

Having come back from behind, Steve Cooper’s men showed the resilience to respond to Keane Lewis-Potter’s opening goal against the run of play with both Lewis Grabban and Brennan Johnson on the score sheet for the Reds.

Whilst the equalising penalty was awarded controversially as George Honeyman was adjudged to have upended Alex Mighten in the area, Johnson’s superbly taken winner was enough to seal the three points.

The home crowd were well and truly treated to one of the best performances of the season from their outfit. Forest started strongly and were unfortunate not to have taken the lead as Grabban missed a sitter in the first 10 minutes of the game. Jack Colback’s ball fell into the path of the forward but he got his volley all wrong from close range as Hull breathed a sigh of relief.

Johnson’s almost assist could have seen Forest break the deadlock but as he rolled the ball across the face of goal there was no red shirt gambling at the far post to apply the finishing touch.

After such a dominant start, the Reds inevitably slowed down and from the 20-minute mark, Hull started to find a foothold in the game as Greg Docherty became more influential in midfield and was at the heart of their improved play.

The ultimate sucker punch for Forest arrived just before the break as the Tigers took an unlikely lead. Sean McLoughlin’s exceptional long ball caught Djed Spence out at the back, and as Lewis-Potter caught the flight of the ball superbly, his exquisite first touch saw him trap the ball down before thumping the ball in.

Having found themselves a goal down, Forest rallied in the second period and started the half on the front foot. Nathan Baxter had to make an outstanding save to deny Phillip Zinckernagel’s powerful header, and moments later, referee Busby showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot as Mighten crashed to the ground inside the box. Grabban stepped up to smash the ball past the Hull goalkeeper and level the game at 1-1.

Johnson secured all three points for the Reds with an outstanding finish on 73 minutes that took the roof of The City Ground. As Grabban made progress along Hull’s left side, he held off the defenders to lift a deep cross into the Forest box that found Johnson at the far post. With still a great deal of work to do, the 20-year-old chested the ball down beautifully before guiding the ball past Baxter and into the back of the net.

Despite finishing on the losing side, Lewis-Potter put on the kind of display that will only be attracting more clubs to see him in action. Pitted against one or Forest’s main threats in Djed Spence, it was the 20-year-old that edged that dual before switching flanks in the second period.

After Spence started brightly as the Reds immediately came out of the traps, Lewis-Potter’s movement threatened to catch the wing-back out as he pushed further up the pitch.

His opening goal also underlined his importance to Grant McCann’s side. Mallik Wilks and Josh Magennis struggled to make an impact on the game as Forest had much of the ball but it was a moment of brilliance that saw Lewis-Potter score his fifth goal of the season.

He very nearly made it two before the break as his header from Honeyman’s corner flashed past Brice Samba’s near post and into the side netting.

On two occasions, Lewis-Potter skipped past makeshift full-back Jack Colback and produced two delightful chipped crosses to the back post which had caught out Samba. His first attempt was a whisker away from a Hull touch whilst his second hit the top of the post with the rebound being blazed over the bar by Docherty.

“His performance level was outstanding whatever side he played on and the lad’s getting better and better, he’s playing with real confidence.

“I see Keane [Lewis-Potter] every day, his attitude to work, learn and to be coached and then his ability, his pace, his power and his finishing and technical ability is top drawer.” – Grant McCann, Hull City manager

Despite the defeat ending Hull’s six-game unbeaten run, it was one of their strongest outings of the season as they went toe to toe with the league’s form side and almost came away with a point at the death. Jacob Greaves and Greg Docherty once more impressed as the Tigers held firm for the opening half-hour when Forest threatened to get in front.

With another big game against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day, McCann will be hoping that his players can recover from the defeat and continue with the momentum they had picked up following the last international break. With Lewis-Potter in this type of form, Hull certainly have a match-winner within their ranks to avoid returning to the slump in form which left them in the relegation places.

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