Klose at the double as Norwich end Forest’s unbeaten home run

Posted Sunday, October 21, 2018 by PA

Timm Klose helped to inflict the first home defeat of the season on Nottingham Forest as the defender scored twice to guide Norwich to a come-from-behind 2-1 win at the City Ground.

Lewis Grabban had struck against his former club to give Aitor Karanka’s side an early lead but it was not enough to preserve their recent seven-match unbeaten run.

Klose flicked home from close range on the hour mark before sweeping home a loose ball for the winner five minutes from the end, when Costel Pantilimon was only able to parry an effort from Jordan Rhodes.

Daniel Farke’s side hung on to celebrate three points which saw them climb to fifth place with Forest slipping out of the top six.

Forest made a bright start, carving out two dangerous moments before Grabban pounced to give them a fifth-minute lead. Joe Lolley had been inches away from sending the striker clear with a lovely chipped ball over the top, which Tim Krul pounced on.

But the Norwich keeper could do little when Joao Carvalho picked out Grabban with an almost identical lofted pass, the £6million man this time able to guide a simple but composed finish beyond Krul and inside the post from seven yards.

Forest were inches away from making it 2-0 when Lolley cut in brilliantly from the left to strike a rising shot that bounced away off the underside of the bar.

Norwich, too, were denied by the woodwork when they threatened for the first time, with Onel Hernandez angling in a shot from the left side of the box which bounced away off the far post, with Pantilimon beaten.

When Grabban lifted a cross to the far post, Lolley arrived unmarked but failed to properly connect with an ambitious volley.

Forest had another let-off when Marco Stiepermann prodded a shot wide of the post, when he had only Pantilimon to beat.

A powerful header from Ben Watson sent Grabban chasing into the box again but his low shot was well saved by Krul.

Lolley started the second half brightly by leaving two Norwich players in his wake as he darted into the box, before shooting high and wide.

Pantilimon had to make a strong save to push away a long-range effort from Rhodes.

But Norwich’s equaliser came in the 60th minute when Moritz Leitner whipped in a free-kick from the left and Klose applied the vital touch, amid a melee of players.

Lolley fired a shot wide as Forest looked for a response but it was Norwich who were building pressure on the Forest goal as they won a succession of corners.

When one of those picked out Rhodes in the centre and he flicked the ball towards goal, Pantilimon could only parry and Klose was the quickest to react, pouncing to sweep the ball into an exposed net and give Norwich an 85th minute winner.