Nottingham Forest’s Ben Osborn has cited a Premier League ace of yesteryear as the inspiration behind perhaps one of the best goals the City Ground has ever seen.
Nottingham Forest secured a vital Championship victory over Bristol City to give caretaker manager Gary Brazil the perfect start to his first team tenure.
Academy manager Brazil, who is in temporary charge of Nottingham Forest following the sacking of Philippe Montanier, saw one of his own graduates score the game’s winner from a marvellous free-kick routine reminiscent of a top-flight legend from the 1990s.
Osborn’s second strike of the season was Forest’s first goal of 2017 – and draws plentiful comparisons with Matt Le Tissier’s February 1994 strike against Wimbledon.
The goal that gave Nottingham Forest their first win in eight games arrived in the 67th minute of the match. Following a free-kick 25 yards from goal, fellow one-time academy starlet Matty Cash rolled the ball to the feet of Osborn, who proceeded to flick it up before hammering a sweetly struck left-footed volley into the back of the Bristol City net.
It was Le Tissier himself, who upon seeing the wonder goal, took to Twitter to express his admiration for the goal and to welcome Osborn into the club of special strikes – whilst also reminding us that the feat was in turn influenced by John Sheridan’s goal for Sheffield Wednesday against Luton in October 1991.
Osborn subsequently engaged in a twitter conversation by replying to Le Tissier, suggesting a fond reminiscence for the top flight action of yesteryear regularly displayed on a famed TV highlights package.
Whether the talented Osborn continues his career development to the level of Le Tissier remains to be seen – but his superb strike will forever live in the memories of the City Ground faithful for many a year to come.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
