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NICOLAS DOMINGUEZ earned 10-man Nottingham Forest a point with his first goal for the club.Forest were reeling from a crazy 60 second spell just before the hour which saw defender Moussa Niakhate sent off and Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard scored from the resulting free-kick.
Nicolas Dominguez broke the deadlock for Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
Christian Norgaard equalised for the visitors in the second halfCredit: Reuters
Moussa Niakhate was shown a second yellow card after fouling Yoanne WissaCredit: PA
But Steve Cooper’s side hit back when sub Harry Toffolo’s cross was met by Dominguez who scored with a looping header that left a question mark over Dutch keeper Mark Flekken.
The Bees keeper will be wondering how it went in though as the ball dipped late and fooled him as he reached out in vain to stop it.
Argentinian midfielder Dominguez was a deadline day signing from Bologna – but his day ended on a low note when he then limped off injured.
But it was another day of lengthy VAR delays – and resulted in 13 minutes of stoppage time at the end.
Brentford have not won in the league since August – but they stopped a run of three successive defeats.
But the result means that Cooper has yet to get the better of Brentford boss Thomas Frank – a run stretching back to the Welshman’s days as Swansea manager.
This was the match chosen by Sky Sports as a game which would not detract from their coverage of the Ryder Cup.
And for long periods – they were right as both teams turned in a below par display.
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One of the talking points of the half was the fact that Brazilian defender Murillo made his Forest debut after a deadline move from Corinthians.
But his shirt had his name spelt wrongly – with an extra ‘R’ – but it was corrected after the break.
Murillo was soon involved in the action as he flicked on a Callum Hudson-Odoi ball for Taiwo Awoniyi to net from close range.
But the effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
It was stalemate until the break as Forest threatened occasionally as Brentford remained cautious.
But Thomas Frank’s side almost grabbed the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Vitaly Janelt’s shot took a deflection off Serge Aurier, but Forest keeper Matt Turner reacted quickly to parry the ball out.
But in the scramble that followed, Wissa looked to have scored but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Ibrahim Sangare.
If Turner had been outstanding then, he was quite the opposite seven minutes after the break when he was caught hesitating on the ball by Wissa. As the ball rolled towards goal, Wily Boly was able to clear in time.
But then Forest were handed a double blow in the space of 60 seconds.
Niakhate had already been booked after 33 minutes for a late challenge on Mathias Jensen.
So when he did similar in the 56th minute – bringing down Wissa – ref Paul Tierney showed him a second yellow card.
Jensen took the resulting free-kick, and Norgard headed home from eight yards out. The goal was given after a lengthy VAR check
But the 10 men of Forest drew level seven minutes later.
Sub Toffolo’s first major contribution came when he crossed for Dominguez to head home.
It was a looping header that deceived Flekken who appeared to be caught in two minds.
Brentford threatened a late winner when Bryan Mbeumo raced clear but sub Morgan-Gibbs-White stopped him with a superbly timed challenge.
Gibbs-White had been dropped for the game, but Cooper will have been glad he was on the field at that moment.
But both sides went for the victory in a frantic stoppage tjme that contrasted wildly with the first half.
Murillo finished the game on a high with a goal-line clearance that kept Forest on level terms.
Here is how the action unfolded…

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BESIEGED Rangers manager Michael Beale’s future at the club is in doubt after the Teddy Bears lost to Aberdeen in a crushing 3-1 defeat.Beale has been under pressure since losing the Old Firm derby before the international break.
But after Saturday’s loss against Aberdeen at Ibrox, the odds are on him losing his job – with fans calling for him to be sacked.
Sportswriter Graham Spiers took to Twitter to say: “A brilliant win for Aberdeen at Ibrox – perhaps the catalyst for Barry Robson’s season.
“Michael Beale is going to be sacked – he cannot survive this hapless football from Rangers.”
Read our Michael Beale blog below for the latest news and updates…
Rangers fans WRONG to boo team off at half time says Michael Beale
Michael Beale, who is clinging to his job after seeing his ten-men crash 3-1 to Aberdeen, said Rangers fans were wrong to boo his side off at half-time.
Cllaiming his team deserved more respect for their opening 45-minute showing, he said: “Listen it’s a situation that’s escalated much faster than I thought.
“I thought it was harsh to boo them off at half-time.”
“We conceded from a set-play but we played well enough to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.
“I get the frustration, they follow this club all around.”
Aberdeen fans say Gers in denial over TV gaffe
Rangers TV graphics during the defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox yesterday had the wrong team scoring the first goal.
In response to Stefan Gartenmann’s opener being claimed by the home side on Rangers TV, Aberdeen fans took to social media to voice their opinions.
One said: “Rangers TV heavily in denial lol.”
Another posted: “Rangers TV having a ‘mare at half-time.”
A third wrote: “They’re just making up their own score,” accompanied by laughing emojis, while another added on X.com – formerly Twitter the in-house TV team was “being optimistic.”
Beale admits ‘criticism is fair’
Michael Beale has admitted that the criticism he’s facing “is fair” following a poor run of results for the Gers.
Beale told BBC Scotland: “The criticism that comes is fair.
“But we’ll see, We’ll see what happens
“Listen we are involved in four competitions, it’s early in the season.
“We’re not the sum of all parts today. I think any reasonable Rangers fan can see that.”

Beale: ‘We need to be better’
Rangers missed some big chances through Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima before the roof caved in, starting with a goal from Dons star Stefan Gartenmann.
Michael Beale told BBC Scotland: “I think everyone realises where we are and the standards and the standards need to be better.
“Today we had enough opportunities in that game to win it and we end up getting beaten off a scoreline we should never get beaten here at Ibrox against a team like Aberdeen, we shouldn’t.”
‘Any reasonable Rangers fan can see we’ve got players out’
Michael Beale has been under pressure from his own supporters following defeats to PSV and Celtic — and was subjected to further jeers after today’s defeat to Aberdeen.
As Beale faced the music afterwards, he admitted he had to take the criticism – but he also said “any reasonable Rangers fan” could see that the Ibrox men aren’t the “sum of their parts” right now due to injuries.
They’re currently missing Danilo, Kemar Roofe, Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin and Rabbi Matondo – but the Gers boss said he felt they should still have had enough to see off Aberdeen.
Rangers TV blunder against Aberdeen leaves viewers shocked
Even the Rangers TV graphics got it wrong yesterday — and attributed Stefan Gartenmann’s close range opener to the Gers!
Opposition supporters waded in claiming the Ibrox broadcast team were in denial or even experiencing a dose of wishful thinking.

Gers new signings fail to deliver
Rangers new signings were under the microscope yesterday as news had broken that scouts Billy Kirkwood, John Brown and Billy McLaren would all be leaving as the club moved towards a data-led operation.
The stats from this clash would most certainly have been damning.
It’s now three defeats from seven and a seven-point gap to Celtic – and we’re only just entering into October.
Watch: Angry Rangers fan lashes out in wild temper tantrum as Aberdeen
Michael Beale is under increasing pressure after falling SEVEN points off league leaders Celtic.
When Jamie McGrath doubled the Dons’ lead the fury spilled over in the stands – particularly for this angry Bear.
He might have expected to be jumping up and down at Ibrox this afternoon – but it was in anger rather than celebration as his side stumbled.
To watch the video, click here.
Michael Beale spotted poses for picture with staff on visit to pub
Under-pressure Ibrox gaffer Michael Beale managed to take a little time out of his busy schedule for a visit to a local pub.
Beale was pictured at Springkerse View, a Greene King Pub & Grill on the outskirts of Stirling.
The Rangers manager popped in on Tuesday night and posed for a picture with the establishment’s thrilled staff.

Michael Beale receives injury boost as Kemar Roofe’s scan results revealed
Michael Beale has been handed a major boost after a scan revealed Kemar Roofe’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared.
The Rangers striker was unable to finish the Viaplay Cup win over Livingston after sustaining a groin injury.
That was bad news for the Gers gaffer – who is already without stars such as Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin, Rabbi Matondo and Danilo for the long term.,
But while he Gers boss will be cautious before throwing him back into action, the good news from his scan is that he may be out for only a week.
Beale told BBC Scotland: “Fingers crossed Kemar will be available again by next weekend so that’s good news.
“There was nothing really significant on the scan so it was a good decision to come out.
“He will miss today obviously and may not be midweek but he could be back for St Mirren.
“We have got seven injuries at the moment, they have all come in games, and they are all people who could play in front five. So it is difficult.”

‘Cyriel would like to do better’
Cyriel Dessers has come in for heavy criticism following his summer move from Cremonese.
Speaking ahead of today’s damning defeat, Michael Beale said: “Cyriel would like to do better. That’s a fact. I don’t think he’s shown his full level yet.
“He has got three goals and a couple of assists. I think he’s been really unlucky.
“If he gets the assist against Celtic and adds that assist to his one against PSV then I think people will see him not only as a goalscorer.
“I think in moments he has shown that but of course he’s looking for a rhythm and a consistency.

Beale throws down the gauntlet to ‘unlucky’ Cyriel Dessers to prove himself
Cyriel Dessers was challenged by boss Michael Beale to prove himself in a Rangers jersey.
The under-fire Gers boss was forced to put his faith in the Nigerian striker with Danilo and Kemar Roofe both injured.
To read more on this story, follow this link.
‘We’ve been Jekyll and Hyde’
Cyriel Dessers, who squandered a number of good chances this afternoon, was one of nine new faces brought in by Michael Beale over the summer.
Asked if they’d disappointed, Beale said: “The whole squad is accountable and the staff too. I don’t want to go into individual players.
“We’ve been Jekyll and Hyde. The problem is we win a lot but when it comes down to decisive moments we create a lot and our conversion isn’t high enough.
“That leads to anxiety on the pitch and in the stands. We shouldn’t concede three at home in a game like today, no chance.”

Rangers pay for not taking chances
Once more Rangers were made to pay for not taking their chances with Cyriel Dessers again the chief culprit.
Michael Beale — who saw Ridvan Yilmaz and Ryan Jack added to his casualty list — said: “When you don’t take chances it deflates everyone and the confidence in the team.
“Dessers isn’t living in the best moment of his career and he’s found it difficult.
“I’m sure given time he will show his quality but it’s fair he’s below the level he’d like to be.”
‘That’s someone else’s decision’
The Ibrox hierarchy must now decide whether to stick by Michael Beale ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash against Aris Limassol.
Asked if he believes he’ll get time to turn things around, Beale said: “That’s someone else’s decision. All I can do is continue with the job the best I can.
“We felt we prepared well enough tactically. It’s a really bad result and we feel the frustration and despair. We share it as staff and players.
“Can we turn it around? The coming games will tell. I don’t want to sit and talk things up after a result like that. Coming in I couldn’t see that result.
“Certainly after the first half we didn’t deserve the outcome but it’s what we got and it’s not good enough.
“But other teams have been here before, even in the last couple of years, and turned it around. We need to show better form than we have been.”
Beale says his team ‘started well’ but ‘didn’t deserve anything’
In spite of suffering a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Aberdeen at home, Rangers boss Michael Beale believes his team “started well” and had plenty of chances, but in the end “didn’t deserve anything”.
He said: “We started really well. I thought Aberdeen were very compact and quite negative early on but we created three or four big chances.
“You don’t take them then we defend set plays as poorly as we did and go in 1-0 down at half-time.
“We reshuffled, started the second half and conceded from a set-play so we didn’t deserve anything.”

‘Supporters could help the players’
Michael Beale has said “supporters could help the players” after his side were booed off at the 45-minute mark during their 3-1 loss to Aberdeen.
He said: “It’s the fourth home game in ten days and pretty much all of them have been sold out.
“Sometimes the supporters could help the players but one or two could help themselves too.
“It was a horrible day, a terrible result.”
Teddy Bears fans were WRONG to boo team off at half time says Michael Beale
Under-fire Michael Beale, who is clinging to his job after seeing his ten-men crash 3-1 to Aberdeen, has said Rangers fans were wrong to boo his side off at half-time.
Cllaiming his team deserved more respect for their opening 45-minute showing, Beale said: “Listen it’s a situation that’s escalated much faster than I thought.
“I thought it was harsh to boo them off at half-time.”
“We conceded from a set-play but we played well enough to be 2-0 or 3-0 up.
“I get the frustration, they follow this club all around.”
Rangers fans not impressed
The pressure has been on the boss despite three consecutive wins and clean sheets against Real Betis, Motherwell and Livingston.
These wins have come since their Old Firm defeat on September 3.
But in spite of some decent results, the home support has not been impressed by performances over the course of the season.
Opposition fans say Gers in denial over TV gaffe
Rangers TV graphics during the defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox today had the wrong team scoring the first goal.
In response to Stefan Gartenmann’s opener being claimed by the home side on Rangers TV, opposition fans took to social media to voice their opinions.
One said: “Rangers TV heavily in denial lol.”
Another posted: “Rangers TV having a ‘mare at half-time.”
A third wrote: “They’re just making up their own score,” accompanied by laughing emojis, while another added on X.com – formerly Twitter the in-house TV team was “being optimistic.”
Beale says ‘criticism is fair’
Michael Beale has said the criticism he’s facing “is fair” following a poor run of results for the Gers.
He told BBC Scotland: “The criticism that comes is fair. But we’ll see, We’ll see what happens
“Listen we are involved in four competitions, it’s early in the season.
“We’re not the sum of all parts today. I think any reasonable Rangers fan can see that.”

‘We need to be better’
The Ibrox men missed some big chances through Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima before the roof caved in, starting with a goal from Dons star Stefan Gartenmann.
Michael Beale told BBC Scotland: “I think everyone realises where we are and the standards and the standards need to be better.
“Today we had enough opportunities in that game to win it and we end up getting beaten off a scoreline we should never get beaten here at Ibrox against a team like Aberdeen, we shouldn’t.”
Beale: Any reasonable Rangers fan can see we’ve got players out
Englishman Michael Beale has been under pressure from his own supporters following defeats to PSV and Celtic — and was subjected to further jeers after today’s defeat to Aberdeen.
As he faced the music afterwards, Beale admitted that he had to take the criticism – but he also said “any reasonable Rangers fan” could see that the Ibrox men aren’t the “sum of their parts” right now due to injuries.
They’re currently missing Danilo, Kemar Roofe, Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin and Rabbi Matondo – but the Gers boss said he felt they should still have had enough to see off Aberdeen.
Rangers blunder against Aberdeen leaves TV viewers shocked
Even the Rangers TV graphics got it wrong today — and attributed Stefan Gartenmann’s close range opener to the Gers!
Opposition fans waded in claiming the Ibrox broadcast team were in denial or even experiencing a dose of wishful thinking.

Rangers new signings fail to deliver
Rangers new signings were under the microscope today as news had broken that scouts Billy Kirkwood, John Brown and Billy McLaren would all be leaving as the club moved towards a data-led operation.
The stats from this clash would certainly have been damning.
It’s now three defeats from seven and a seven-point gap to Celtic – and we’re only just entering into October.
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VILLA underlined their credentials as credible Champions’ League candidates as they hit Brighton for SIX thanks to a sensational Ollie Watkins hat-trick.And they didn’t even have to worry about their infamous wet-look Castore shirts – as they barely broke sweat to get the job done!
Ollie Watkins was on fire for Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
Watkins celebrates with team-mate John McGinnCredit: REUTERS
Watkins chose the perfect time to send a come-and-pick-me message to watching England boss Gareth Southgate as he tore Brighton apart.
The 27-year-old Villa striker helped himself to a hat-trick and two assists to take his Villa goals tally to 50 and overtake Christian Benteke as Villa’s fifth top Premier League scorer of all time.
His last hat-trick came in a 7-2 thrashing of Liverpool and this goal-fest was every bit as unexpected as Villa pulverised their highly-regarded opponents.
Unai Emery’s pumped-up Villa had this match in the bag after half an hour as they blitzkrieged Brighton into submission.
They raced into a three-goal lead with just 26 minutes on the clock as Roberto De Zerbi paced around his technical area, barely able to believe what he was witnessing.
Every time he looked through the cracks of his fingers his defence was collapsing like a cheap deckchair on Brighton beach.
It might have been a different story if Pervis Estupinan had made the most of the early chance which fell his way.
Billy Gilmour played a sand-wedge pass over Villa’s defence which picked out the Ecuadorian but the left-back’s shot lacked power and Emi Martinez saved easily.
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Moussa Diaby’s shot deflected in on off Pervis EstupinanCredit: GETTY
However from that moment on it was one-way traffic as Villa ran riot.
Douglas Luiz had been booked for leaving Gilmour in a crumpled heap and Diaby had crashed a net-bound shot off Adam Webster, before Villa seized the lead after 14 minutes.
John McGinn sent Matty Cash dashing round back of Brighton’s defence and the Polish international cut the ball back to Watkins who side footed beyond Jason Steele from six yards.
It was slick, incisive and ended with a killer touch from Watkins, who has now scored in each of his last four appearances against the Seagulls.
Four minutes later he came close to adding a second when McGinn released him and his first shot was blocked by Webster, before he curled the rebound inches wide of the far post.
But there was no stopping the striker in this mood and he doubled Villa’s lead midway through the first half.
Diaby fed him the ball and Watkins took on Dunk and Veltman before drilling a low shot in at the near post beyond Steele.
Brighton had every right to feel aggrieved as Nicolo Zaniolo was standing in front of Steele inside the six yard box and the Seagulls stopper appeared to be hampered as he was sluggish to react to Watkins’ shot.
But VAR decided no infringement had taken place.
Incredibly Emery’s fired-up stars added a third before the half hour when Brighton were caught napping, claiming for a foul in midfield by Douglas Luiz on Solly March.
Villa didn’t hang around to argue and Digne charged upfield to feed Watkins who in turn found Diaby.
The little Frenchman’s first shot was blocked by Steele but his second from the rebound clipped off Pervis Estupinan and found the back of Brighton’s net.
Again, the Seagulls got no joy from VAR who decided the Luiz, March incident was a simple coming together.
De Zerbi had seen enough and made three changes at half-time as he sent on Joao Pedro, Ansu Fati and Tariq Lamptey for Welbeck, Ferguson and Estupinan.
For a moment it looked as if it might pay off as Brighton pulled one back within five minutes.
Villa were caught napping when Joao Pedro took a quick free kick and fed Kaoru Mitoma who returned the favour.
Pedro just managed to keep the ball in play, nudging it across to Ansu Fati who had a simple tap in at the far post, which was allowed to stand following a lengthy VAR check for offside.
But any hopes Brighton had of staging a comeback were torn to shreds as Watkins clocked up his first hat-trick since October 2020 in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.
He started the move with a pass to McGinn, who then picked out his galloping striker at the edge of Brighton’s box.
Watkins drove at Lamptey and Webster before letting fly and the ball deflected off Webster’s boot to fly high beyond Steele to restore Villa’s three-goal lead.
Substitute Jacob Ramsey then added a fifth as Watkins turned supplier, setting his teammate up for a shot which clipped Steele’s far post it’s way past the crestfallen ‘keeper.
And Ollie turned provider again seven minutes into injury time when his shot was beaten out by Steele and Douglas Luiz gleefully rammed home the rebound.
That goal meant the Brazilian equalled Dwight Yorke’s record of scoring in five successive Premier League games at Villa Park.
You can read how the action unfolded in our blog below…

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