Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone following a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, though their inability to convert multiple chances left them feeling frustrated. Neco Williams put Forest ahead early on, but Julio Enciso levelled just before the interval, meaning Oliver Glasner’s team are still looking for their second league win this season.
Forest generated several opportunities to claim all three points, and a contentious incident involving James McAtee and Ipswich defender Issa Diop became another talking point. The draw moved Forest up to 16th place with six points, though they could drop back into the bottom three before the weekend concludes.
Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich: goals and wasted opportunities
Forest began brightly and went in front in the 13th minute when Williams converted Daniel Munoz’s cross at the far post, netting his first goal for the club since April. Morgan Gibbs-White, back in the lineup, nearly doubled the lead, but Christian Walton denied his attempt before Leif Davis cleared the ball off the line.
Ipswich took advantage of a defensive error four minutes before half-time. Nikola Milenkovic hesitated on the ball and played a short backpass, which allowed Julio Enciso to intercept and beat Matz Sels. It was Enciso’s first goal for the club since his summer transfer.
Three minutes into the second half, Forest called for a red card after Diop fouled McAtee as the midfielder tried to break through on goal. Referee Thomas Bramall initially let play continue, but VAR suggested an on-field review for a possible denial of a goalscoring opportunity. After reviewing the footage, Bramall issued a yellow card and a free-kick, explaining that McAtee had directed the ball to the right side of the goal. Glasner described the decision as a clear red card but commended the referee for following the correct procedure.
Forest kept threatening but could not find a winner. Murillo headed a corner wide, Ndoye’s effort was cleared off the line by Davis, and Delap missed twice against his former club. Hudson-Odoi also failed to hit the target late on, while Jack Clarke curled an attempt wide for Ipswich.
Oliver Glasner faces questions about Forest’s scoring record
The result highlighted Forest’s continuing difficulties in front of goal. After seven league games, their expected-goals differential had reached -6.2, and their xG of 2.31 in this match added to the frustration. Forest had scored only six goals in seven league fixtures, the joint-lowest total in the division.
Glasner also faced questions about his choice to keep Chris Wood on the bench until the 94th minute. The striker had been asked to lead a group discussion about finishing in training this season, while Delap continued to work hard without scoring from any of his three attempts. With just one goal since his £50m summer move from Chelsea, Delap’s starting position could come under examination.
Glasner called for patience, maintaining that the team’s performance, spirit, and ability to create chances provided reasons for optimism. He said the players did not need another discussion about missed opportunities and urged them to persevere through a tough period. Gibbs-White, making his 150th Premier League appearance for Forest, described the finishing issue as a matter of mentality and misfortune.
Forest’s situation remains precarious given the club’s recent managerial history. They had four managers last season, while Ange Postecoglou’s 39-day tenure ended after six defeats and no wins in eight games. Glasner also experienced a slow start at Crystal Palace, but he and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis were reported to be in regular contact and to share a good relationship.
Ipswich, meanwhile, will be disappointed with their display after managing only one shot in the second half. However, the point gave them a seventh home point of the season, equalling their total from the 2024-25 campaign, when they were relegated. Manager Gary O’Neil said newly promoted teams can find life difficult in the Premier League but added that his side had generally found ways to close the gap and would aim to finish as high as possible.