Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester: Highlights, man of the match, stats as the Reds see their Champions League hopes take a hit

Nottingham Forest‘s hopes of securing Champions League football for next season have taken another hit, with the Reds held to a 2-2 draw by already-relegated Leicester City at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Conor Coady sent Leicester into a shock lead, but Morgan Gibbs-White scored himself before setting up Chris Wood to score early in the second period, with the home side turning the contest around.

Leicester were not finished, though, levelling the scores late on through Facundo Buonanotte, and Forest, despite their best efforts, could not come up with a third in the final exchanges to secure what would have been a vital three points.

Forest are seventh in the Premier League table, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea with two games left, while Leicester have moved onto 22 points, but the Foxes stay in 19th position in England’s top flight.

SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT

© Imago

Forest are wobbling, and it could cost them Champions League football for next season, which would be such a huge blow considering how impressive the team have been for large portions of this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side have now been victorious in just one of their last six Premier League matches, and they now face games against West Ham United and Chelsea to conclude their season.

As it stands, Forest are securing qualification for the Conference League playoff round, but the Europa League and Champions League are still open for them heading into the final two matchdays of the campaign.

Leicester are preparing for a return to the Championship, but the Foxes can take plenty of positives from the fact that they have now picked up four points from their last two matches.

Ruud van Nistelrooy‘s side will take on fellow relegated side Ipswich Town in their next match before ending the season away to Bournemouth, and those connected with the club will be feeling a lot better about themselves after two strong results in quick succession.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. LEICESTER HIGHLIGHTS

Conor Coady goal vs. Nottingham Forest (16th min, Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leicester)

Leicester take the lead in the 15th minute of the contest, as Coady heads into the back of the net from close range after Forest goalkeeper Mats Selz had pushed a strike from Bilal El Khannouss into a dangerous area.

Morgan Gibbs-White goal vs. Leicester (25th min, Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leicester)

Forest level the scores in the 25th minute of the contest, as Gibbs-White heads a corner from Anthony Elanga into the back of the net – huge goal for the home side at a crucial period of this Premier League fixture.

Chris Wood goal vs. Leicester (56th min, Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leicester)

Forest take the lead in the 56th minute of the contest, as Wood heads a brilliant cross from Gibbs-White into the back of the net from close range; that is now 20 Premier League goals for the season for Wood.

Facundo Buonanotte goal vs. Forest (81st min, Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester)

Leicester level the scores in the 81st minute of the match, with Buonanotte showing wonderful feet inside the Forest box before finding the back of the net; that is an excellent goal from the attacker.

MAN OF THE MATCH – MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE

© Imago

Gibbs-White again showed his class on Sunday afternoon, with the Englishman putting in a brilliant performance, scoring his side’s first before setting up Wood to head Forest into a 2-1 lead in the second period.

The 25-year-old also finished the match with a pass completion rate of 88%, and it will be very difficult for Forest to keep hold of him during this summer’s transfer window considering his quality.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. LEICESTER MATCH STATS

Possession: Nottingham Forest 56%-44% Leicester
Shots: Nottingham Forest 15-10 Leicester
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 4-6 Leicester
Corners: Nottingham Forest 4-4 Leicester
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 11-10 Leicester

BEST STAT

WHAT NEXT?

Forest will be bidding to return to winning ways when they head to West Ham United next Sunday, before finishing their campaign at home to Chelsea on May 25.

As for Leicester, their final match of the season at the King Power Stadium will come against Ipswich next Sunday, before the Foxes conclude their campaign away to Bournemouth on May 25.

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