Forest 2 Millwall 2 – Lee Gregory grabs deserved late equaliser for Lions

A late Lee Gregory goal earned Millwall a dramatic 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest after they fought back from 2-0 down to end their run of consecutive away defeats.

Joe Lolley’s long-range strike put Nottingham Forest ahead in the first-half before Joao Carvalho doubled their lead on 70 minutes.

Shaun Williams headed home to make it 2-1 and as the clock hit 90 minutes Gregory tapped home at the back post to send the 400 or so travelling fans into raptures.

Lions manager Neil Harris shuffled his pack and replaced the suspended Jed Wallace with Jiri Skalak and opted for Tom Elliott to partner Gregory up front. Murray Wallace and Shane Ferguson – making his first league start since January 30 – were also named in the starting 11.

Millwall started on the front foot and were almost ahead within the opening minutes. The ball broke kindly for Ferguson on the left and he floated over an inviting cross that Gregory headed onto the crossbar from close-range.

The visitors continued to threaten, and Elliott was next to go closest, forcing Costel Pantilimon to push his near-post header round for a corner from Skalak’s free-kick.

The confident start from the Lions showed no signs of letting up and Ferguson was next to try his luck, but his goal-bound volley was pushed behind for a corner by Pantilimon after the Forest shotstopper had initially flapped at a cross but recovered well.

But after all Millwall’s early pressure, it was the hosts that went in front on 27 minutes. Joe Lolley took aim from 25-yards and drilled low into the bottom corner, after creating space for himself.

The goal didn’t stop Harris’ side in their tracks as Gregory had a wonderful chance to level but couldn’t beat the giant figure of Pantilimon and the Romanian blocked.

Forest started the second-half much better and Lolley could have added to his tally but fired well over from Robinson’s cut-back.

At the other end, Skalak’s deep cross found its way to Ferguson at the back-post, but the winger couldn’t find Gregory or Elliott with the pull-back.

Midway through the second period the floodlights went out and the players were forced to leave the pitch for 10 minutes whilst the problem was sorted.

Less then three minutes after the resumption, the hosts doubled their advantage. Ryan Leonard fouled Adlene Guedioura 25-yards out and Carvalho stepped up and delightfully curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner despite Ben Amos’ best efforts to keep it out.

Millwall hit back immediately and got themselves right back into the game on 75 minutes. Ferguson produced an inch-perfect ball from the right and Williams got there before Pantilimon to nod into an empty net.

Just minutes later Harris side thought they had completed the comeback. Substitute Tom Bradshaw headed home from Williams’ deep corner, but Jonathan Moss spotted something in the Forest penalty area and awarded the home side a free-kick. Harris and assistant boss David Livermore were furious.

The visitors weren’t to be denied as Gregory converted from Leonard’s cross at the back post to level the scores and Millwall could have even won the game, but Ferguson fired wide at the death.