Bournemouth gave their rattled fans a taste of ecstasy at the end of a dreadful week as two stunning goals and a gift of a winner effected a remarkable fightback at the City Ground.
The mood of the travelling support, and interim boss Gary O’Neil’s players, was not helped by referee Michael Oliver’s decision not to overturn a penalty decision, allowing Brennan Johnson to give the home side what seemed to be a comfortable 2-0 half time lead.
The Cherries, still reeling from last week’s 9-0 mauling at Anfield and the subsequent sacking of manager Scott Parker, were on course for another harrowing day as Johnson’s disputed spot kick doubled the lead after after Cheikhou Kouyate had headed the opener.
The ball had inadvertently struck Lloyd Kelly’s elbow as he hurled himself in the way of Neco Williams shot, and after Mr Oliver had instantly awarded a spot kick he was asked to trot over to the pitchside monitor after a lengthy look by VAR Graham Scott.
That is usually a signal that the VAR thinks a wrong decision has been made but Mr Oliver, after watching the replays, decided he had been right after all, and Brennan Johnson slammed home to make it 2-0 to the home side.
Neither side registered a shot in the opening 33 minutes so it was no great surprise that Forest forged ahead through a straightforward setpiece goal. Morgan Gibbs-White had been the main focus of their better attacks and when he swung in a corner, rangy midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate rose highest to head home.
Bournemouth had been game enough until that moment but visibly wilted and by half time they were two down courtesy as Johnson belied the lengthy wait to take the penalty with a confident strike.
The Cherries’ players protested the decision as the half time whistle blew but their response was more fitting when play resumed, as Philip Billing crashed a 25-yard drive beyond the flailing Dean Henderson to add some jeopardy to Forest’s lead.
The travelling Cherries fans, tucked into one corner of another full house in Nottingham, were bouncing again as Kelly headed Marcus Tavernier’s corner back across goal and Dominic Solanke acrobatically volleyed the ball home.
