Gio Reyna didn’t have to wait long to make his first appearance for Nottingham Forest, earning late sub minutes against Bournemouth, while Josh Sargent continued his stellar run of form for Norwich with another goal in his man-of-the-match performance.
AFC Bournemouth 1 – 1 Nottingham Forest
Less than one week after arriving at Forest for a half-season loan, Gio Reyna was already handed his debut by head coach Nuno, however was unable to help the team overcome ten-man Bournemouth in Sunday’s draw.
Joining Reyna on the bench was recently-deposed keeper Matt Turner, who unlike the 21-year-old attacker, was not called into action and watched recent acquisition Matz Selz continue the season-long tradition of mediocrity in the team’s nets.
For Bournemouth, USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams, who has suffered continual setbacks in his quest to return to health, was not in uniform and his debut with the team is still likely a long way in the future.
The hosts were already on top after just five minutes. Lewis Cook delivered a blazing, inswinging corner from the left side, which Luis Sinisterra barely grazed with his head over to the far post. Justin Kluivert was in perfect position to loop around the defenders and poke it over the line from close range for the lead.
However, Forest were able to equalize on the stroke of the half, thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Callum Hudson-Odoi. The former Chelsea attacker recovered a loose ball just outside the area, thanks to the inability of several Bournemouth defenders to effectively clear a long free kick from the right flank, cut inwards and sent a looping shot through a narrow lane of several defenders to the lower right corner.
With 12 minutes left, Reyna was called into action in place of right winger Anthony Elanga as a part of a double-switch by Nuno, and the team were given hope of finding a late winner after Philip Billing was shown a straight red six minutes later for a careless heel-stomp that caused Hudson-Odoi noticeable damage.
Reyna was in the thick of the action during his short cameo, making 21 touches and completing 17 out of 19 passes, while winning all four of his duels and his only tackle.
Despite having the man-advantage and being given seven minutes of added time, Forest were never able to mount any truly threatening push for the winner, and were forced to settle for the point.
The result leaves them in 12th place following the weekend’s action, albeit with a game in hand compared to most of the other teams in the league. They host Bristol in a FA Cup replay on Wednesday, in a game which should feature Turner in the nets. As Reyna was not registered with the club for the original cup tie on January 26, his next opportunity to play will be on Saturday against Newcastle.
Burnley 2 – 2 Fulham
Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson helped Fulham get off to a flying start against Burnley on Saturday, with the latter assisting on their second goal, however saw their early lead squandered and were forced to settle for a point on the road.
Luca Koleosho, who has featured 15 times for Burnley this season in Premier League play, is still recovering from an earlier injury and was not in uniform.
The Cottagers struck first in the 17th minute, Joao Palhinha heading in Andreas Pereira’s inswinging corner from just beyond the near post, then doubled the lead four minutes later.
On their second goal, Robinson held off Zeki Amdouni near the midfield stripe with his back towards goal, and launched the ball over his shoulder towards the Burnley half of the field. Rodrigo Muniz caught the defense sleeping, broke free and chipped the ball over the keeper with his first touch for the 2-0 advantage.
Even though Fulham’s goalscoring issues have been their Achilles heel as of late, this time it was their defending that let them down in the end.
With 19 minutes remaining in regulation, Lorenz Assignon broke free on the left and launched a cross towards the far side of the six-yard box, where David Datro Fofana rose to head it into the open net.
Then 20 minutes later, Fofana earned the point with a rather lucky shot, with Wilson Odobert’s low cross slipping under Ream’s attempted clearance and onto the Ivory Coast international’s ankle, and eventually over the line.
Fulham are 13th with the loss, with a seven-point gap ahead of the relegation places, and next host Bournemouth on Saturday.
Norwich City 2 – 1 Coventry City
Josh Sargent had the upper hand over Haji Wright in the EFL Championship battle between the USMNT’s 2022 World Cup strikers, scoring the opener for Norwich on Saturday as the Canaries beat visiting Coventry.
Sargent was a beast in his 90-odd minutes of play, taking five shots, forcing one save in addition to his goal, setting up three further chances, winning all four of his dribbles and nine of 11 duels, while drawing a pair of fouls.
Still Coventry took the lead just after the half, with Callum O’Hare hitting a low shot from just beyond the left upright to the far side of goal, after impressively evading several Norwich defenders.
Sargent equalized on the hour-mark, powerfully volleying a deflected ball from near the penalty spot to the right side of Bradley Collins’ goal.
Coventry saw their afternoon take another turn for the worse when Liam Kitching was sent off in the 71st minute for tripping up Sargent as he was well on his way to netting a second goal.
While this perhaps robbed the American of his glory, the Canaries still capitalized, as Borja Sainz struck the 84th-minute winner with a blazing 20-yarder from just outside the box to the right side of goal.
The victory keeps both teams even on 44 points, with Coventry having the slight edge on goal differential. This also leaves both teams one point off the pace for the final promotion playoff spot. Norwich next visit QPR on Saturday, while Coventry host Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night in the FA Cup.
Notes
Auston Trusty and Sheffield United put on a horror-show of defending on Saturday afternoon, conceding five goals in their shut-out, home loss against Aston Villa. The American central defender played the full game, as the loss left the Blades dead-last in the Premier League, ten points from safety.
Chris Richards once again started as a defensive midfielder for a depleted Crystal Palace squad, who were on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing at Brighton & Hove Albion. Palace are still five points clear of the relegation places, with their next game against downtrodden Chelsea on Monday.
Daryl Dike was a late substitute for West Brom on Saturday, as a late winner at home against Birmingham City left them in the promotion playoff spots with some breathing room ahead of the teams below.
Reggie Cannon went the distance at right back for QPR on Saturday, who defeated their hosts Blackburn Rovers by a 2-1 score. The team is still within the relegation places of the EFL Championship standings, but only has a three-point gap to safety. New Blackburn arrival Duncan McGuire did not suit up for the hosts.
Duane Holmes was an unused substitute for Preston North End on Saturday, who defeated visiting Ipswitch Town by a 3-2 score.
Lynden Gooch started on the left wing for Stoke, and played 57 minutes in their shocking, 5-0 home shellacking at the hands of Leicester City.
New Cardiff City arrival Ethan Horvath was not in uniform for the team in their 1-0 road win over Watford on Saturday.
Matthew Hoppe was not in uniform for Middlesbrough’s 1-1 home draw against Sunderland on Sunday.
Vaughn Covil was not in the roster for Hull City, who defeated visiting Milwall by a 1-0 score on Saturday.
New Barnsley arrival Donovan Pines was on the bench as an unused substitute on Saturday in the team’s 1-1 road draw at Bolton Wanderers in League One action.
Charlie Kelman was a 72nd-minute substitute for Wigan Athletic on Saturday, as the team earned a 3-2 road win at Peterborough United.
On-loan Alex Mighten subbed in at halftime for his new club Port Vale on Saturday afternoon, as they lost by a 3-0 score at Fleetwood Town.
New Crawley Town arrival Jeremy Kelly was on the bench for the League Two team on Saturday for their 2-1 home loss to Morecambe.
Jonathan Tomkinson started at right center-back for Bradford City on Saturday, as they held AFC Wimbledon to a scoreless draw.
