Nottingham Forest ratings – high marks as Reds reach quarter-finals of Europa League

Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Vitor Pereira’s Reds through to quarter-finals of Europa League

Nottingham Forest staged a superb comeback to clinch their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a penalty shootout win over FC Midtjylland.

Vitor Pereira’s side made the trip to Denmark 1-0 down from last week’s first leg at the City Ground. The Reds boss showed where his priorities lie, though, by fielding a much-changed starting XI at the MCH Arena.

Most of Forest’s big-hitters were on the bench as Pereira named a team with Sunday’s huge Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur in mind. Still, it was another chance for some of the club’s fringe players to impress – and backed by a vocal 600-strong travelling contingent in the away end, it was one they needed to take given a place in the last eight was on the line.

The Reds’ second string showed they were up for the fight from the off. In a dominant first half they created chance after chance and played some lovely football, with the hosts barely getting a look-in.

The story of Forest’s season has been one of missed opportunities, though, and they squandered their fair share before the break. Ryan Yates hit the bar and Lorenzo Lucca failed to find the target after being teed up brilliantly by a Nikola Milenkovic knock-down, while Philip Billing cleared off the line from a corner – and that was just the pick of the Reds’ moments as they had plenty of others.

It looked like being another night of frustration until Nicolas Dominguez finally made the breakthrough four minutes before the break. From Dilane Bakwa’s wicked ball in, Milenkovic nodded the ball across goal and the Argentine craned his neck to send a looping header past Elias Rafn Olafsson.

It levelled the tie, but the Reds could easily have put it to bed in those first 45 minutes so much were they on top. To win it, they still had work to do in the second half.

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Seven minutes in, Yates doubled their lead with a stunning effort right in front of the away end. The skipper whalloped the ball in from the edge of the D with his left foot to make it 2-0 on the night.

The tie was still finely poised, though; Midtjylland only needed one goal to force extra-time. With little more than 20 minutes to go, they got it when Martin Erlic smashed the ball home from 15 yards out.

Both teams had their chances before the 90 minutes were out, but another 30 were required to try to separate them. Lucca had the ball in the net at the start of the additional half-hour but fell foul of the offside flag, and Yates did the same right at the death as VAR ruined any chance of Forest celebrations.

With no breakthrough, the tie went to a penalty shootout. Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Neco Willliams scored to send the Reds through as Midtjylland missed three from the spot.

Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at the MCH Arena…

Stefan Ortega: Hadn’t had a great deal to do until Midtjylland came to life after going 2-0 down. Not a great deal he could do about Erlic’s goal. Didn’t have anything to do in the shootout. Rating: 7/10

Zach Abbott: Really good experience for the youngster and he gave a good account of himself. Acquitted himself well and should take a lot of confidence from that. Rating: 8/10

Nikola Milenkovic: With the back line barely troubled in the opening hour, the Serbian was able to cause plenty of problems at the other end of the pitch. Had already set up Lucca for a chance before he did the same for Dominguez’s goal. Rating: 8/10

Morato: Made a vital intervention early on to thwart Junior Brumado. Had been relatively quiet for the Brazilian after that, until the ball bounced off him for Erlic’s goal. Might have done a bit better with that one. Rating: 7/10

Dan Ndoye: Built on his excellent substitute showing against Fulham with a positive display in Denmark. Worked hard during a first half where the Reds were very much on top. Should give him confidence for the season’s run-in. Rating: 7.5/10

Nicolas Dominguez: Excellent header from the Argentine for his second goal of the season. Took it ever so well. Was thoroughly deserved, both on a personal and collective level. Rating: 8/10

Ryan Yates: What a strike from the skipper with his left foot. Was unfortunate not to have scored before that with his shot that wobbled the woodwork. Quite the moment in front of the away end – and he nearly had another one. Rating: 8.5/10

Dilane Bakwa: Started positively with an off-target effort after just three minutes and grew in confidence as the night went on. Whipped some delightful balls in, including for the opening goal. What Forest have been waiting for from the summer signing. Rating: 8/10

Omari Hutchinson: Lively throughout as the Reds pressed well and applied the pressure in the opening hour. Could easily have added to the visitors’ goal tally but wasn’t the only one to miss chances. Rating: 7.5/10

James McAtee: Really good performance from the former Manchester City man. He shone against Ferencvaros earlier in the European campaign, of course, and did so again in this one. Just needs to back it up. Rating: 8/10

Lorenzo Lucca: Definitely should have scored, let alone just hit the target with his golden opportunity in the first half. That moment aside, though, he made a right nuisance of himself and kept the hosts’ back line busy. Rating: 7/10

Subs

Neco Williams (for Ndoye, 61mins): Didn’t do a lot wrong but Forest were a different team after the manager turned to the bench – and not in a good way. Ended up playing longer than expected but was excellent from the spot. Rating: 7.5/10

Murillo (for Milenkovic, 61mins): Could have been more alert for Erlic’s goal. Forest had been untroubled before that. Tried to drive them forward when he could. Rating: 7/10

Morgan Gibbs-White (for Hutchinson, 61mins): Had a decent chance soon after coming off the bench. A few bright moments but Forest rather lost their momentum with the changes made. Good penalty. Rating: 7.5/10

Ola Aina (for Bakwa, 75mins): Could easily have bagged a late goal to send the Reds through in the 90 minutes. Much like on Sunday, though, it just didn’t go in for him. Got forward well. Rating: 7.5/10

Elliot Anderson (for McAtee, 75mins): Was left in disbelief not to win a free-kick when clean through and brought down on the edge of the area. Referee didn’t afford the England international much protection. Rating: 7/10

Ibrahim Sangare (for Dominguez, 91mins): Did fine without necessarily making his mark on the game. Forest just needed someone to force another breakthrough. Excellent penalty. Rating: 7.5/10

Subs not used: Sels, Willows, Jesus, Whitehall, Sinclair, Hanks.

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