Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brighton: Gibbs-White seals comeback win to lift hosts out of the drop zone

Three days after losing an FA Cup semi-final, Brighton saw their European dreams take a huge dent as Nottingham Forest won for the first time since February 5 to lift themselves out of the bottom three.

In an engaging, frankly bizarre game, Brighton dominated possession and took the lead through Diego Buonanotte after Brennan Johnson missed a penalty for the hosts.

Still, Pascal Gross Forest’s own goal gave Forest a lifeline before the break and then man of the match Danilo scored a fantastic second.

When Morgan Gibbs-White netted the second penalty of the game in stoppage time, the game was safe, although the win was soured a bit by a worrying facial injury suffered by Forest man Neco Williams in the second half.

After a few months of chastisement, Steve Cooper takes credit for a tactical plan that enabled his side to crack Brighton’s code, though sometimes they got lucky.

Striker Danilo burst through and put the home side ahead against Brighton in the 69th minute

Forest leveled when Renan Lodi’s cross from the left netted a vicious deflection from Pascal Gross

Cooper’s counterpart Roberto De Zerbi may regret making just three changes to his starting squad following Manchester United’s penalty shootout defeat at Wembley.

On his first Premier League start, Buonanotte moved quickly when Gibbs-White objected to a fall in the penalty area and pulled the Argentine up by his shirt. As the players jostled around, Forest defender Felipe charged over an opponent and was lucky enough to receive only a yellow card.

Forest had started in a 5-1-3-1 system, content to let Brighton make the run and play on the break.

On the other hand, Johnson had a chance to put Forest ahead from the spot when Williams robbed Pervis Estupinan and fouled, but Jason Steele flew to the right to keep the kick out.

Forest’s injury-prone defender Moussa Niakhate lasted just 12 minutes as Brighton started to click into gear.

Kaoru Mitoma slid past Serge Aurier and came right in front of Julio Enciso, whose effort was brilliantly saved by Keylor Navas. Johnson was then pushed by Lewis Dunk when he fired from 20 yards and should have been awarded a free kick.

To add insult to injury, Brighton took the lead seven minutes before the break. It was a double roar from Navas, who went straight to Buonanotte and then pushed Solly March’s shot straight into the path of the 18-year-old, who tapped in.

‘Buonanotte’ means ‘good night’ in Italian and at the time it seemed an appropriate comment about Forest’s chances of survival.

Awoniyi shot weakly at Steele and Danilo shot over from a promising position before Forest equalized in first half stoppage time. Renan Lodi’s cross caused a big deflection from Pascal Gross and Steele couldn’t avoid creeping in at the near post.

Facundo Buonanotte put the visitors ahead after Kaylor Navas parried Solly March’s tame shot

Brennan Johnson’s penalty was saved by Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele in the 11th minute

Neco Williams was taken off on a stretcher after a sickening collision in the second half

At the beginning of the second half there were chances on both sides. Estupinan volleyed wide and Mitoma should have completed a slick counter-attack with Enciso, Estupinan and Buonanotte.

Williams’ low blow flew just past Steele’s post and then the Welshman collided with teammate Johnson as they attempted to convert Gibbs-White’s cross. There was a long delay as Williams was treated and taken off on a stretcher.

Cheikhou Kouyate replaced Williams and four minutes later Forest led. Danilo cut a pass from Moises Caicedo and then charged forward to collect Taiwo Awoniyi’s pass and finished brilliantly for Trent End.

Dunk was penalized via VAR for a clear handball and despite the protests, Gibbs-White calmly converted and Forest was back above the line.