Late equaliser sees the home side’s wait for a win against Bournemouth continueThere has been a tangible air of positivity and calm around Nottingham Forest this summer, yet it took only eight minutes for the serene mood to be pierced.
An horrific injury to Brazilian midfielder Danilo overshadowed this entertaining contest, with Forest’s head coach Nuno Espirito Santo confirming that he has broken his ankle. Early scans suggest the 23-year-old will be absent for at least three months.
Danilo was taken off on a stretcher off after an innocuous collision with Antoine Semenyo, and television replays of the incident in slow motion will not have been for the squeamish.
A number of players, including Morgan Gibbs-White, were clearly shaken by the incident as Danilo landed awkwardly on his ankle after jumping up to contest the ball near the halfway line.
Physios were immediately summoned on by referee Michael Oliver, as Danilo lay on the pitch in clear discomfort. Screens were erected to shield the Brazilian as he received treatment from medical staff.
After a delay of around nine minutes, the £17 million signing was stretchered off with his left leg in a splint before he was rushed to the Queen’s Medical Centre.
Nuno said: “It was a horrible moment for us all, but of course especially for Danilo. He has broken his ankle and we know that it’s serious.
“We are going to miss him as a player and a person. He is a top player and person, everyone loves him in the dressing room and he’s always smiling.
“You could see the effect it had on both sets of players and it stays in their heads. The good news is that Danilo is speaking and is aware, we hope that he will recover as quickly as possible.”
The sickening moment occurred in the eighth minute, with Danilo challenging Semenyo for a ball near the halfway line.
Semenyo was able to continue after brief treatment, later providing the crucial equaliser three minutes from time.
On the incident with Danilo, Semenyo said: “I don’t remember much. I just remember getting an elbow to the back of my head and landing on my arm.
“I didn’t think anything of it but then I got up and saw he was being stretchered off. Sorry to him and I hope he recovers well.”
Forest did recover from Danilo’s departure and took the lead after 23 minutes with a goal from last season’s leading scorer Chris Wood.
Ryan Yates’s shot from inside the area was pushed away by Neto but Wood reacted quickest to slide the ball into the corner.
Bournemouth responded and Dango Ouattara’s close-range finish after 31 minutes was disallowed after a VAR review, with Lewis Cook adjudged to be marginally offside.
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