Last-gasp Jota goal earns point for Bees

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Brentford 2 Nottingham Forest 2

Jota headed home an injury-time equaliser as promotion-chasing Brentford came back from two down to salvage a point in dramatic fashion.

Nottingham Forest struck twice in the second half against the run of play, first through teenage striker Tyler Walker and then on-loan Chelsea youngster Todd Kane.

Andre Gray turned in the box and fired in his 16th goal of the season to give the Bees hope with 10 minutes remaining.

And Jota met Tommy Smith’s cross in the dying seconds to snatch a deserved draw.

Fresh from a brilliant 4-1 away win against west London rivals Fulham, Brentford were on top for most of the game Griffin Park.

They almost took a first-half lead in fortuitous circumstances when Forest keeper Karl Darlow slipped and only just managed to clear Kelvin Wilson’s back-pass.

Darlow looked much more comfortable keeping out James Tarkowski’s header and denying Stuart Dallas at the far post following Moses Odubajo’s right-wing cross.

Darlow did well again, this time at his near post, to palm away Gray’s powerful shot after the striker had been played in by Odubajo.

Jake Bidwell, who was handed the captain’s armband, and Alan Judge then both fired narrowly wide as Brentford kept up the pressure.

At the other end, Tarkowski produced a fine challenge to thwart Michail Antonio as the Forest man took aim in the penalty area early on.

And shortly before the break, Walker, on as a substitute, missed a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead when he failed to connect properly with Antonio’s low cross.

But the 18-year-old son of former Forest and England star Des Walker netted just after the hour mark, collecting Darlow’s long clearance and cleverly turning away from Tarkowski before firing past keeper David Button.

And the hosts were undone again on 77 minutes when Ben Osborn sprinted down the left and delivered a perfect ball in for fellow substitute Kane, who netted from close range.

Brentford hit back through Gray but were staring defeat in the face after Smith saw a header tipped over.

However, Forest were unable to clear the resulting corner and Jota pounced.

Brentford: Button, Odubajo, Tarkowski, Dean (Smith 77), Bidwell, Diagouraga, Dallas (Toral 59), Pritchard, Judge, Jota, Gray.
Subs not used: Bonham, Douglas, Craig, McCormack,  O’Connell.

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