Bournemouth 1 – 1 Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest snatched a late equaliser to deny Bournemouth their first win since November.
The Cherries took the lead when winger Dango Ouattara, making his debut following his £20m move from Lorient on Thursday, crossed from the right and Jaidon Anthony finished with a low strike.
But the hosts could not hang on as they conceded in the 83rd minute.
Substitute Sam Surridge, who began his career at Bournemouth, scored against his old side, sliding in from close range to convert Brennan Johnson’s low cross.
There was a nervous wait for Forest as a video assistant referee checked to see if Surridge was onside, with the goal eventually given to earn Forest a vital point.
The result saw Bournemouth drop down to 18th and into the Premier League relegation zone, four points behind Forest, who are now unbeaten in four matches and 13th in the table.
For Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil it extended his run of matches without a win to seven after he got the manager’s job on a permanent basis in November following a successful spell as caretaker boss.
The Cherries do at least end a six-game losing run in all competitions but will see this as a missed opportunity to pick up three points.
Forest came into this match with only two away goals from nine Premier League matches – the worst record in the division – and thought they had got a third goal on their travels after only 13 minutes.
It was a well-worked free-kick with Morgan Gibbs-White lifting the ball to the back post, Boly headed it across goal and Yates converted with a diving header, before a video assistant referee check showed Boly to just be offside.
The visitors had other chances to go ahead as Morgan Gibbs-White had a shot saved by Neto, Serge Auried headed over from a corner and Renan Lodi shot over from 30 yards.
Bournemouth, after a slow start, got more into the game with Kieffer Moore missing a glorious opportunity, heading over from six yards out from Zemura’s cross.
Forest did not pay attention to the warning as Bournemouth scored three minutes later with Ouattara doing well down the right and Anthony finishing.
Steve Cooper handed an instant Forest debut to striker Chris Wood after he joined on loan from Newcastle on Friday – their 25th signing of the season, but he struggled to make an impact.
Another new player also got his first minutes in a Forest shirt as Brazil midfielder Danilo, a £16m signing from Palmeiras, came on just before halftime to replace the injured Yates.
Johnson had a low shot well saved by Neto as Bournemouth looked to hang on for what would have been a much-needed win.
But their defence was breached with six minutes to go with Surridge’s equaliser.
source – BBC
