Michael Dawson started at centre-back as Nottingham Forest beat Championship rivals Stoke City 3-2 in the Carabao Cup at the City Ground on Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest have really struggled for goals recently, so the fans were certainly spoiled on Wednesday.
In their EFL Cup third round clash with Stoke City, Aitor Karanka’s side scored more than twice in a game for only the second time this season.
Ben Osborn, Daryl Murphy and Joe Lolley were all on target as Forest edged out the Potters with a 3-2 win at the City Ground, while finally producing the kind of creative and exciting performance the fans have been craving.
But a thrilling win might have escaped them if it wasn’t for Michael Dawson at the other end of the pitch.
After going 3-0 up inside 50 minutes, Forest were forced to bite their nails in the final quarter. Diego Goncalves’ controversial red card left them down to ten men, while Benik Afobe and Saido Berahino cut their advantage down to one.
But Dawson showed exactly why Forest fought tooth and nail to bring him back to the City Ground on a free from Hull City.
The former Tottenham and England defender was at his inspirational best at the heart of defence, throwing his body on the line and doing everything to ensure Stoke did not get the third goal they needed.
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