West Brom pegged back by Nottingham Forest as Jake Livermore avoids red card for awful tackle

Livermore could easily have been sent off for a dangerous challenge on Forest defender Yuri Ribeiro – the ex-Tottenham and Hull man somehow managing to avoid a booking from referee Keith Stroud.

The hosts then took the lead with an accomplished finish from Callum Robinson but Kyle Bartley’s own goal saw the two sides level at the break.

Livermore was at the centre of things again as he played a key role in West Brom’s second goal by firing straight at Tobias Figueiredo and the ball went into his own goal, this coming shortly after Forest were denied a clear free-kick when Sammy Ameobi was tripped over by Livermore.

But the visitors dug deep and got a point thanks to a stunning strike by Matty Cash in stoppage-time.

The Baggies felt they should have won the game with almost the last kick when a Robinson strike was ruled out.

Forest started slightly better and wasted an excellent chance to take the lead when the unmarked Lewis Grabban headed a foot wide from Ribeiro’s cross.

Albion struggled to establish any dominance as the first half became very niggly, with West Brom’s Matheus Pereira and Forest left-back Ribeiro needing treatment after tackles.

Robinson screwed a shot wide from 12 yards from Livermore’s cross and Dara O’Shea’s header was blocked by Cash from Filip Krovinovic’s centre as Albion sought a breakthrough.

Pereira was finding himself on the end of some rough treatment and Cash was booked for a cynical foul from behind on the Brazilian playmaker.

Albion went close when Bartley headed over from Krovinovic’s wind-assisted corner.

West Brom took the lead as Pereira got his own back. The on-loan Sporting forward robbed Samba Sow in midfield before finding Robinson, who curled home in style to the left of goalkeeper Brice Samba.

Forest belatedly returned to the attack just before the break. Tiago Silva volleyed fractionally over the crossbar from Cash’s cross before Forest equalised.

Sammy Ameobi, who had switched wings, crossed from the left and Bartley, stretching to keep the ball away from Grabban at his right shoulder, only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net.

As the half-time whistle sounded, Albion head coach Slaven Bilic protested to the fourth official after strong tackles from both teams.

Albion went close just after the restart when Krovinovic tried to pick out the bottom corner from 20 yards and Samba scrambled the ball behind.

The home side were suddenly finding space to attack, with midfielder Livermore having an increasing influence.

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The former England international screwed a shot on the turn straight at Samba, but Albion were just getting into their stride again.

A full-blooded volley from Pereira was blocked by Ameobi just in front of the line before the hosts regained the lead with the second own goal of the afternoon.

Livermore was involved again as his cross was tapped into his own net by Figueiredo.

But Forest were disappointed play was not halted earlier in the move when Livermore caught Ameobi as he turned to leave him writhing on the ground.

Albion wasted several chances before Forest equalised.

Robinson curled over then had an effort tipped wide, sandwiching Romaine Sawyers’ shot that was palmed aside.

But Cash punished them when he struck an unstoppable angled shot into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Sam Johnstone no chance.

Albion were denied a winner with virtually the last kick when Robinson’s volley flew in but Bartley, lying on the ground over the line, was ruled offside.

West Brom failed to fully extend their lead at the top of the Championship as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest, but Baggies midfielder Jake Livermore led a charmed life in the game.