STUART Pearce may not have got the win he hoped for, but he got the performance he had demanded, as Nottingham Forest demonstrated their character to earn an encouraging point at in-form Watford.
The Reds boss had demanded an improved display, after seeing his side surrender their unbeaten start to the campaign at Cardiff with their worst performance of the campaign so far.
But Forest's determination not to be beaten came to the fore once more, as Michail Antonio twice found the back of the net to cancel out goals from Odion Aghalo and Matej Vydra and secure a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.
It may only have been enough to earn them a point, but this was the kind of response Pearce would have wanted, as Forest gave the side that had started the evening at the top of the Championship table a tough game.
Forest were forced into one change, with Henri Lansbury suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the campaign amid a frustrating afternoon in Cardiff, but Pearce made three in total, as he looked to bounce back from that defeat in South Wales. David Vaughan and Ben Osborn were both brought into midfield, while Dan Harding slotted in at left back, with Jack Hunt and Matty Fryatt dropping to the bench.
This meant a reshuffle in formation, with Forest fielding an extra man in midfield to help combat an ambitious Watford approach that saw them adopt a hugely fluid 4-3-3, with a dangerous attacking trio led by Matej Vydra, supported by Odion Ighalo and Fernando Forestieri.
It was Forest who threatened first, with Eric Lichaj – switched over to right back after starting at left back in recent games – delivering a cross from out wide, which former Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes flapped at slightly, under pressure from Britt Assombalonga, with Antonio just failing to make contact when stretching a foot out desperately at the far post.
It was Karl Darlow who had to make the first save of the game, right in front of the travelling fans, with Forestieri connecting perfectly with a 25-yard effort that the keeper parried well.
Forest were set up to hit their hosts on the break, with Lichaj happy to get forward in support of Chris Burke down the right side and Antonio his usual physical presence down the left. The former Sheffield Wednesday winger almost carved out an opening goal when he rampaged into the box and let fly with a cross-shot that Gomes did well to pounce on at his near post.
A foul on Lichaj then gave Vaughan a chance to deliver a whipped in free kick which almost sneaked inside the far post – and would have done if not for a deflection off a defender that took it narrowly wide.
A flurry of quick Watford passing left Forest looking on as Vydra ghosted clear through the centre, but Darlow was impressively quick off his line to block, as the striker connected with a low shot.
Assombalonga drew a foul on the far side to give Vaughan a chance to fire in another free kick, this time picking out defender Kelvin Wilson, but he sent his header looping over after stooping to connect.
But it was the home side who were to take the lead. Vydra had provided a warning shot of sorts, forcing a fine save from Darlow following a fine passing move from the Hornets. And Watford maintained a spell of pressure, after the resulting corner. When Almen Abdi crossed from the left, Gianni Munari provided a beautiful flick on with his heel in the centre, leaving Ighalo with the task of converting from close range, which he did with aplomb.
That goal came in the 29th minute and, two minutes later, Forest were level, following fine work from Antonio. The winger picked up possession on the left side and simply launched himself towards goal, leaving more than one Watford player in his wake before calmly slotting the ball beyond the advancing Gomes.
Gianni Munari flashed a shot wide of the post following more patient build up from the hosts, as they looked to restore their advantage.
A controversial moment came before half time, as Vydra went down on the edge of the box, having run across the front of Mancienne. It was clever play from the striker, who did have his heels clipped, but seemed to be looking for the free kick. But what followed was more unsavoury, as the majority of the Watford players furiously surrounded referee Dean Whitestone, to demand a red card. In the end, it was a yellow card flashed by the match official.
There was still more work to do for Darlow before the break, as he continued his personal battle with Forestieri, this time palming away brilliantly, diving to his right, after the Italian had bent a shot towards the far post.
Watford had to make a change five minutes into the second half, with Abdi seemingly having collected an injury and being replaced by Sean Murray. But it did little to halt their momentum as, within two minutes, they were ahead again.
Vydra was the man at the centre of things as he went down under a sliding challenge from Wilson. If referee Whitestone had let Forest off the hook in the first half, he did not this time, as he pointed to the spot almost instantly. Vydra was equally decisive, firing powerfully to Darlow's left to make it 2-1.
Harding was almost the unlikely source for an equaliser, following a fine run and left footed shot that was only just wide, after taking a deflection off a Watford boot. While Tesche too was not afraid to have a go, missing the target by only a foot or so with a swerving 25-yard effort.
Forest did pull themselves level again, however – and in spectacular fashion. It was Antonio who netted his second of the game – but it was Burke who was the architect, as he produced a superb run down the right side, carrying the ball 60 yards, beating two Watford players, before sending a perfect cross to the far post, where Antonio headed powerfully home from a few yards out.
Suddenly it was Forest who were full of confidence, with a Mancienne header deflected wide from a corner and Assombalonga lifting a shot over the bar when he had more time to find his range. But, with Vydra testing Darlow once more before the final whistle, it felt like a good point for the visitors.
Watford: Gomes, Muinari, Ekstrand, Tozser, Forestieri, Parades, Pudil, Vydra, Abdi (Murray 50), Ighalo (Deeney 65), Bassong (Hoban 85). Subs: Bond, Doyley, Anya, Dyer.
Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, Mancienne, Wilson, Harding, Tesche, Vaughan, Burke, Osborn, Antonio, Assombalonga (Fryatt 90). Subs: de Vries, Fox, Lascelles, Hunt, Paterson, Blackstock.
Referee: Dean Whitestone. The penalty seemed slightly soft when Vydra went down under a challenge from Wilson, but Mancienne could also have been sent off for clipping the heels of the striker when he had been clean through.
Man of match: Michail Antonio. The winger's two goals helped Forest twice come from behind amid a dramatic clash between two sides hoping to challenge for promotion.
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