Nottingham Forest beat Brighton & Hove Albion to boost survival hopes

Brennan Johnson spurned the opportunity to give his side the lead from 12 yards, seeing his early spot kick smartly saved by Jason Steele.

After getting off to a lacklustre start, Brighton improved as the first half went on, and they duly took the lead in the 38th minute through Facundo Buonanotte.

Forest required a slice of luck to pull themselves level before half time, with Pascal Gross deflecting the ball into his own net, but there was nothing fortunate about their second goal.

Danilo produced a precise finish to put Forest in front, and the three points were wrapped up when Morgan Gibbs-White dispatched his penalty in stoppage time, ending the club's 11-game winless run.

After losing to Manchester United on penalties in Sunday's semi-final, Brighton were experiencing something of an FA Cup hangover in the opening stages at the City Ground as they got off to a sluggish start.

Pervis Estupinan presented the hosts with the chance to take an early lead when he rashly brought down Johnson in the box after being caught in possession by the Wales international.

Johnson picked himself off the floor to step up to the spot, but he was unable to beat Steele, who dived to his right to ensure that the contest remind goalless.

The Brighton goalkeeper was scrambling across his goalline just moments later, but fortunately for the visitors, Danilo's dipping volley whistled inches wide of the post.

After surviving the opening 15 minutes, the Seagulls made their first real foray into the Forest box, as Kaoru Mitoma neatly cut the ball back for Julio Enciso to draw a superb reaction save from Keylor Navas.

Roberto De Zerbi's side continued to grow into the contest, and their pressure paid dividends when Buonanotte marked his first Premier League start with a goal.

Navas could only palm Solly March's strike into the path of the 18-year-old, who had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

Brighton were unable to hold firm to half time though, as Forest restored parity in fortuitous circumstances.

Renan Lodi's cross from the left flank took a wicked deflection off Pascal Gross, sending the ball past a despairing Steele.

Both sides had chances to move in front in the opening stages of the second period, with Estupinan and Neco Williams both sending efforts wide for their respective sides.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Forest completed the turnaround thanks to Danilo's first goal for the East Midlands club.

The Brazilian stole possession off Caicedo on the halfway line, and he raced through on goal after receiving the ball back from Taiwo Awoniyi before driving a low strike into the bottom corner.

March attempted to lead the Brighton response when he forced Navas into a sublime save, but any hopes of picking up a positive result were quashed in stoppage time.

Lewis Dunk was penalised for a handball in the box, and Steele was unable to replicate his first-half heroics, as Morgan Gibbs-White kept his composure to send the Brighton goalkeeper the wrong way.

Brighton's miserable evening was compounded in the 12th minute of added time when Denis Undav saw his late header ruled out for offside.

The win lifts Forest out of the bottom three and into 17th place, while European-chasing Brighton remain in eighth position.