Three points ahead and the goal difference improved by five: before the 46th and final day of the championship, Nottingham Forest could hardly take the play-off. Against Stoke City, a draw would have been enough to maintain the Premier League hopes – but then two goals unleashed extraordinary momentum.
Sabri Lamouchi struggled with him. Nottingham’s coach said he didn’t know what to say when he gave the first interviews after the game late Wednesday night. His team had just lost 1:4 to Stoke City due to a late own goal and Swansea had won 4:1 by scoring a goal in the second leg at FC Reading. The three-point lead and the five-goal difference? Hopes for a return to the Premier League? Buried all at once. The work of an entire year? No yield.
