Coventry City 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Michael Rose own goal gives Forest win
- Published
James Garner was making his first Forest appearance since his deadline-day loan move from Manchester United
Coventry defender Michael Rose's own goal gifted Nottingham Forest three points to lift them further away from the Championship relegation zone.
Rose turned Cyrus Christie's cross into his own net just eight minutes after coming on as City's eight-match unbeaten run at home came to an end.
Maxime Biamou fired Coventry ahead, but Lewis Grabban quickly levelled and Rose's own goal settled the contest early in the second half.
At the other end, Grabban cleared off the line from Leo Ostigard as Coventry pressed in vain for an equaliser.
Forest had to survive 14 minutes of added time after Coventry defender Amadou Bakayoko was carried off after being knocked out late on.
The Sky Blues struck in the 17th minute when Callum O'Hare made a surging run into the Forest half and picked out Biamou, who cut inside his marker and dispatched a perfect finish into the bottom corner.
But the visitors struck back just five minutes later, with Sammy Ameobi making ground on the left flank and cutting the ball back for Grabban to register his third goal of the season.
The equaliser galvanised Forest, with both Grabban and debutant James Garner heading just over and Anthony Knockaert wriggling free to fire into the side-netting just before half-time.
Coventry made two changes at the break, including Rose - but his first appearance in three months quickly turned sour as Garner and Knockaert combined to set up Christie's run and cross that led to his own goal.
The home side had the better of the final half-hour as Julien Dacosta created openings for Biamou and Gustavo Hamer, while O'Hare also went close.
Forest's win - their third away success this season - enabled them to climb to 18th, one place and one point behind Coventry.
Coventry boss Mark Robins told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire:
"In the first half we were poor - the only bit of football we played that was like us ended up with Max scoring.
"The two goals were really poor goals to concede. Had we come in 1-0 at half-time, we'd have gone on to win the game.
"Rosey was coming on cold from an injury but the only way we're going to get players fit is through games and other than that, I thought he was outstanding. His use of the ball was magnificent.
"We created a lot of openings but didn't work the goalkeeper enough. Some of the crosses from Julien Dacosta were out of this world - strikers should thrive on those."
Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton:
"I thought we showed really good character to come back and win.
"I heard it's been a long time since we've won after the other team have taken the lead and it's nice to win like that.
"At the end we were hanging on, sometimes you can get a lot from that kind of victory. We have to defend really well and we did that. I thought Brice Samba was excellent in goal."