Forest 1 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

Having been second-best for large parts of the game, the Baggies deservedly fell behind in the 55th minute to a long-range strike from Adlene Guedioura.

But Phillips roofed a lethal half-volley three minutes from time to spark a remarkable finish.

Albion hit the post and the crossbar after that and up the other end, Kyle Bartley cleared A Forest effort off the line.

Although they might have won it at the death, in truth, Darren Moore will be pleased to head home with a point, because they were outplayed by Forest in the most part.

However, the Baggies did threaten going forward. Phillips's performance was once again a positive, and new signing Dwight Gayle - who also hit the post - looked encouraging off the bench.

Moore made two changes from the team that lost to Bolton, bringing in James Morrison for Hal Robson-Kanu and handing a debut to Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo in place of Allan Nyom. There was still no place in the squad for Craig Dawson.

After a high-tempo start, the Baggies had the first chance when Matt Phillips chested Chris Brunt's free-kick towards Jay Rodriguez, but the striker couldn't keep his volley down.

Another Brunt free-kick caused trouble soon after when it was headed downwards by Kyle Bartley but Forest cleared at the second time of asking.

It was a breathless start, and ten minutes in Forest right-back Tendayi Darikwa was given too much space on the flank and allowed to pick out Joe Lolley in the centre, but Kyle Bartley was on hand to block his shot.

Forest started to control the ball after that, and Albion were guilty of handing possession back to them by attempting too many raking Hollywood passes.

The hosts, on the other hand, looked dangerous with their neat short passing play, and they got in behind the Baggies thanks to a gorgeous chip over the top from Monaco loanee Gil Dias, but Lewis Grabban fired over from a narrow angle.

Albion were chasing shadows by this point, and Grabban stung Johnstone's palms with a shot shortly before the half-hour mark.

Moments later the hosts had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the Baggies keeper, who was challenged while he was clinging to the ball on the floor.

Forest's midfield runners were getting away from Jake Livermore and Chris Brunt, and at times, the red tide flooding forward was overwhelming those in yellow and green.

Johnstone was in the thick of the action again ten minutes before the break, when he spared Adarabioyo's blushes after the debutant sold him a nightmare backpass which Grabban pounced on.

Albion's keeper did well to stop the Forest striker from shooting before the ball was sent to the back post where Lolley fired over.

The visitors had a rare sight of goal soon after following a good move that worked Barnes to the byline. He pulled it back to Phillips in a dangerous position, but his shot was blocked by Tobias Figueiredo.

And Albion gave themselves hope just before half-time when they fashioned a glorious chance for Rodriguez following a neat one-two between Phillips and Barnes, but the cross was just behind Albion's striker and he scooped his shot over the bar.

The game was more even after the break, with both Lolley and Barnes seeing long-range shots go wide.

Albion were struggling to deal with Dias, one of Forest's Portuguese trio, and he was isolating Adarabioyo at right-back.

But for all their intricate passing, it was a stunning long-range effort ten minutes into the second half that finally gave Forest the lead.

Guedioura was more than 25 yards out, but his drilled effort flew into Johnstone's bottom corner after taking a slight deflection.

It was nothing less than the hosts deserved, and Moore reacted immediately, sending new signing Dwight Gayle on for the ineffective Morrison and putting two men up front.

The Baggies did rally and enjoyed a rare spell of pressure after the goal, with Phillips seeing a shot deflected over the bar.

As they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Forest looked dangerous on the break and goalscorer Guedioura nearly bagged a superb second from inside his own half when he caught Johnstone off his line, but Albion's backpedaling keeper managed to just about get a glove on it.

Eight minutes from time, Gayle nearly announced himself to the Albion fans in stunning fashion after picking up a Barnes through ball and hitting the post with his shot.

But the Baggies weren't left ruing that chance because three minutes from time Phillips larruped a half-volley into the roof of the net at the far post to rescue a point.

That goal sparked an incredible end to the game, and two minutes later Albion nearly won it when Phillips hit the post with a deep cross before Barnes followed up and smacked the crossbar with a header.

At the other end, Kyle Bartley cleared a header off the line as the Baggies threw their bodies on the line to earn their point.

There's still work to do, but that late fight-back will give Albion plenty of confidence going into the next few games. They're up and running now.

Key Moments

55' GOAL FOREST - Adlene Guedioura drills a low long-range effort inside Sam Johnstone's post.

87' GOAL ALBION - Matt Phillips thumps a half-volley into the roof of the net.

Man of the Match

Gil Dias - Ran Albion ragged for most of the game.

Teams

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon, Darikwa, Figueiredo, Fox (c), Osborn, Colback, Guedioura, Dias (Goncalves 77), Carvalho (Soudani 84), Lolley, Grabban.

Unused subs: Smith, Watson, Murphy, Robinson, Dawson.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone, Adarabioyo, Bartley, Hegazi, Gibbs, Brunt (c), Livermore, Phillips, Morrison (Gayle 56), Barnes, Rodriguez (Robson-Kanu 90+2).

Unused subs: Myhill, Townsend, Barry, Harper, Burke.

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 27,850 (2,000 Albion)