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The Premier League relegation battle took another dramatic turn as Nottingham Forest escaped the bottom three with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday, 23 October 2026. Forest dominated large periods of the match but were left frustrated after missing several chances to claim a vital victory.
Ipswich moved up to ninth place with 10 points, while Forest climbed to 16th on six points. The result ended Forest’s run of three consecutive defeats, although Oliver Glasner’s side will feel they missed an important opportunity to secure only their second league win of the season.
Premier League stalemate leaves Forest frustrated
Nottingham Forest made the brighter start and took the lead in the 13th minute. Daniel Muñoz delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and Neco Williams timed his run perfectly to cushion the ball home at the back post.
The goal was Williams’ first for Forest since April and rewarded an energetic opening from the visitors. Morgan Gibbs-White then went close, forcing a save from Christian Walton, before Leif Davis cleared another effort off the line.
Despite Forest’s early pressure, Ipswich gradually found a way back into the contest. The hosts equalised in the 41st minute after Nikola Milenković hesitated in possession and played a short backpass. Julio Enciso seized on the mistake, raced through and calmly finished past Matz Sels for his first goal since joining Ipswich in the summer.
VAR controversy sparks heated debate
The match’s most controversial moment came shortly after half-time when Forest midfielder James McAtee attempted to break through on goal. Ipswich defender Issa Diop brought him down, and referee Thomas Bramall initially allowed play to continue.
VAR then recommended an on-field review for a possible red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. After checking the incident, Bramall awarded Ipswich a free-kick and showed Diop a yellow card instead. The referee explained that McAtee had moved the ball towards the right side of the goal, meaning the incident did not meet the required threshold for a sending-off.
Glasner strongly disagreed with the decision, calling it a “clear red card”, although he praised the referee for following the review process. Former Forest manager Steve Cooper also argued that there should be less VAR intervention, while former Aston Villa winger Ashley Young felt the decision was correct.
Forest forward Gibbs-White offered a more measured view, saying it was difficult to know whether McAtee would have reached the ball. However, he questioned why the incident had gone to VAR when the referee and assistant referee were both close to the action.
Forest dominate but cannot find a winner
The VAR incident appeared to increase Forest’s urgency. Glasner’s team controlled much of the second half and created a series of opportunities, but their finishing repeatedly let them down.
- Murillo headed a corner wide from a promising position.
- Dan Ndoye saw an effort cleared off the line by Davis.
- Liam Delap headed over from six yards against his former club.
- Delap also fired a low shot narrowly wide.
- Callum Hudson-Odoi dragged a late effort off target.
The statistics highlighted Forest’s dominance. They recorded 17 shots to Ipswich’s seven, enjoyed 50.6% possession and produced an expected goals figure of 2.31 compared with Ipswich’s 0.46. Forest also won five corners without finding the decisive second goal.
Glasner said his team had played a strong second half and urged patience. He insisted that the performance, spirit and number of chances showed that Forest were moving in the right direction, despite their poor results.
Critical concerns remain for both teams
Forest’s inability to convert chances remains the main concern. They have scored only six goals in seven league matches, a joint-low figure in the division. Chris Wood was not introduced until the 94th minute, while Delap, signed during the summer, has scored only once since his move from Chelsea.
Gibbs-White admitted the team had discussed its finishing problems in training and described the current spell as a mixture of poor mentality and bad luck. He said Forest must maintain their togetherness and continue producing opportunities.
Ipswich, meanwhile, showed resilience after falling behind. Gary O’Neil’s side earned a seventh home point of the campaign, matching their entire home total from their previous Premier League season in 2024-25. O’Neil praised his players for battling through difficult conditions and recovering from a difficult first half.
The draw leaves Ipswich in a comfortable mid-table position for now, while Forest remain only narrowly above the relegation places. With the margins so tight at the bottom of the Premier League, both teams will know that missed chances and disputed decisions could prove significant later in the season.
FAQs about the Premier League match
What was the final score between Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest?
Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at Portman Road on 23 October 2026.
Who scored in the match?
Neco Williams scored for Nottingham Forest in the 13th minute, while Julio Enciso equalised for Ipswich in the 41st minute.
Why was Issa Diop not sent off?
After a VAR review, referee Thomas Bramall decided that James McAtee had moved the ball away from goal, so the incident was judged to be a foul and a yellow-card offence rather than a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Where are the two teams in the Premier League table?
Ipswich moved up to ninth with 10 points, while Nottingham Forest climbed to 16th with six points.
