Huddersfield 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Forest promoted to Premier League after Levi Colwill own goal
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Steve Cooper’s side are Premier League bound after 23-year absence thanks to Levi Colwill’s own goal… but Terriers are left to rue VAR calls after narrow defeat at Wembley
Nottingham Forest have been promoted to the Premier League after a 23-year absence from the top flight Forest beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 following an own goal from Levi Colwill just before half-time at Wembley Huddersfield’s Harry Toffolo was booked for diving despite appearing to be caught in the penalty area
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Far have they travelled and much have they seen, and perhaps Nottingham Forest have served their time in the footballing doldrums and deserved their good fortune. It certainly felt hard to begrudge any of the wild celebrations at the end of a long exile from the Premier League.
Forest overcame Huddersfield at Wembley Stadium thanks to an own goal by teenage defender Levi Colwill and a generous oversight or two by the officials.
Steve Cooper’s team did not perform particularly well. They were far from fluent. They were out-played for most of the second half and they survived two strong penalty appeals as nerves frazzled in the closing stages.
Nottingham Forest secured promotion to Premier League after they beat Huddersfield Town in Championship play-off final
Joe Worrall lifts the play-off trophy aloft after Forest got the better of Huddersfield following an intense encounter
Forest’s promotion to the Premier League was confirmed after their 1-0 victory in the Championship play-off final on Sunday
Huddersfield’s Harry Toffolo was booked for diving despite appearing to be caught in the penalty area by Jack Colback
Toffolo of Huddersfield was booked for diving when he felt that he should have been awarded a penalty
But they dug in and defended well and they were roared across the finishing line by their fabulous supporters, desperate to see their proud club with its rich history back in the top flight where it belongs.
For their boss Steve Cooper, it was a sweet success after defeat with Swansea on this stage last year and the completion of a remarkable transformation because Forest were bottom of the Championship with one point after seven games.
‘The first objective was to get out of the relegation zone,’ said Cooper, who was appointed at the City Ground in September.
Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson celebrates after his side’s promotion to the Premier League was confirmed
The Forest players celebrate after they took the lead through an own goal from Huddersfield’s Levi Colwill
Sorba Thomas of Huddersfield is left dejected after his team’s hopes of earning promotion were ended at Wembley
Huddersfield defender Colwill scored an own goal just before half-time, which proved to be decisive in the play-off final
The steep ascent has been simply staggering, almost clinching automatic promotion with a late run of form and leading Forest to Wembley for the first time for 30 years, back when Brian Clough’s team lost a League Cup final against Manchester United. There has been much suffering since.
Nottingham Forest started well enough, dominating the early possession without piercing the well-manned Huddersfield defence.
Ryan Yates glanced a header narrowly wide from a free-kick swung in by James Garner and Yates fired over a decent chance from the edge of the penalty box after a neat touch to release him from Philip Zinckernagel.
These teams finished the season in third and fourth in the Championship only two points apart over 46 games. Forest recovered from a dreadful start to the campaign, gathering momentum across the second half of the season, and Huddersfield arrived at Wembley unbeaten in nine games.
Carlos Coberan’s team grew in confidence and created a couple of chances of their own as they settled into a better rhythm. Sorba Thomas skipped clear of Joe Worrall on the left and from an angle forced a save from Brice Samba.
This was quickly followed by a smartly worked corner routine, with a flurry of movement and a low cross by Thomas into the feet of Danny Ward only for the striker to see his effort blocked in a congested six-yard box.
Huddersfield slipped behind just before the interval, however, when they nodded off and allowed Garner the time and space to shape another dangerous ball into the penalty area.
On target with runners across the line of the ball, a little indecision rippled through the defensive ranks. Yates looked likely to reach it but made no contact and Colwill, having tracked his run, was helpless as the ball struck him and flew into his own net off his right knee from six yards out.
Huddersfield returned in purposeful fashion for the second half and Forest dropped deeper and dug in to defend.
Jonathan Hogg flashed a header wide at the near post from another Thomas corner, and wing-back Toffolo was furious when referee Jon Moss ruled he had dived in an attempt to win a penalty, in the 73rd minute.
Huddersfield, having played the entire Championship season without VAR, expected an intervention from the video bunker at Stockley Park. Replays showed there was clear contact, a little trip by Jack Colback enough to topple Toffolo travelling at speed.
Referee Moss, however, making his final appearance before retirement, booked Toffolo and gave a free-kick to Forest for simulation. He was not referred the pitch-side monitors by VAR Paul Tierney.
Jonathan Hogg is left devastated after Huddersfield missed out on promotion to the Premier League with defeat by Forest
Forest manager Steve Cooper managed to guide his side to victory as they secured their place in the top flight
Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba, who had to go off injured near the end of the game, celebrates after promotion was secured
Colback’s relief was obvious as he crossed himself and rolled his eyes skywards. High in the executive seats, Forest’s Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis did the same. Promotion and a Premier League fortune worth at least £180 million was close.
There was more frustration for Huddersfield in the closing stages when another penalty claim for a foul by substitute Max Lowe on Lewis O’Brien was overlooked by Moss.
“The players thought they were fouled but you have the VAR,” said Corberan ruefully. “If the VAR and the referee decide there is no foul I cannot say anything. The VAR increases the opportunity to make fair decisions.”
Forest clung on through six minutes of stoppage time, protecting their penalty area, breaking up play and running down the clock whenever they could. Goalkeeper Samba limped off in the 89th minute but when O’Brien’s shot flashed across goal and wide in stoppage time, Cooper’s team were home and the celebrations could begin. After 23 years, Forest are back.
Recap as Sportsmail provided live coverage of the Championship Play-Off final between Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.
