I’ll tell you now — when Taiwo Awoniyi hit the deck in the 88th minute against Leicester, I knew straight away it wasn’t a knock he’d be walking off.
Forest were pushing hard for a winner. They had to — sat in 6th and chasing Champions League football, anything less than three points was a problem. So when Anthony Elanga whipped that ball in, Awoniyi threw himself at it. Despite the fact the post was coming at him at about 30 miles per hour.
He missed the ball and smashed straight into the post, full pace, ribs first. No two ways about it — horrible.
He tried to play on. Forest’s staff let him, apparently told by medics he could continue. But he couldn’t move. You could see it. He was done. They finished with ten men and dropped two crucial points in a 2-2 draw. That was bad enough.
The next day we found out the real cost: ruptured intestine, surgery, and now he’s in a medically induced coma to stabilise him. You just don’t expect to hear that after a football match.
Footballers Put Their Bodies on the Line
Look, I’ve moaned about players diving, rolling around, pretending to be injured. But moments like this remind you: some of these lads will absolutely risk everything for a result. Taiwo didn’t think twice. He’s a big, brave striker and he threw himself into that six-yard box because Forest needed a goal.
That’s what sticks with me most. It wasn’t for personal glory, it was for his team. That’s the mindset Forest have been living off during this push. And now it’s cost them one of their most important players. Certainly for the rest of the season. Possibly for a lot longer.
Forest confirmed the surgery went well. Taiwo was put into an induced coma but this was precautionary, and they’re expecting him to recover — thank God. But we won’t be seeing him in a Forest shirt again anytime soon.
What It Means for the Champions League Push
Now, I hate being the bloke who talks about football when someone’s in hospital — but this is a football blog, and it’s a football story.
Forest are 7th but only a few points separate them from the next four teams above, and a top five finish gets you into the Champions League. That’s why this run-in has been so important. Before Leicester, they’d been patchy after a remarkable season — just one win in six. That game was a chance to bounce back. And they could have had it. Until that injury, and the late collapse.
Without Awoniyi, their options up front get very thin. Chris Wood has been excellent — 20 goals this season, and one of the biggest reasons they’re still in the hunt. But Wood can’t do it all. And Taiwo was the one player who gave them something different off the bench. A battering ram. A nuisance. A physical presence you don’t get from anyone else in the squad. Alright he hardly ever scored, but he created opportunities.
Now he’s gone, and it leaves Nuno Espírito Santo with a real headache. Play Elanga centrally? Push Gibbs-White further up? Maybe. But none of them offer what Awoniyi does. And when you’re chasing late goals — which Forest are going to need in these last games — you want someone you can lump the ball to. Now they don’t have that.
Morale Is a Big Factor Too
Don’t underestimate the mental side of this either. Forest’s dressing room is young. Not a lot of lads in there who’ve been through the wars. And seeing one of your own stretchered off, then finding out he’s in intensive care… that’s going to shake anyone.
To their credit, the club’s rallied well. Owner Evangelos Marinakis even walked onto the pitch after the final whistle — not to have a go, but to check on Awoniyi. Some thought he was storming down to shout at Nuno. Turns out he was just shaken up. Fair enough.
Morgan Gibbs-White spoke afterwards too. Said the pressure had got to them, and that they’re still growing as a team. I believe him. But growth is slow, and Champions League spots don’t wait.
If they’re going to do this, they need to pull together fast — and play like hell for their mate.
That Offside Rule Needs Looking At
One thing that’s riled me (and a lot of others) is the reason that cross came in at all. Elanga was offside. No question. But because of these modern VAR rules, the flag doesn’t go up. Play continues until the attack’s over. And in that pointless spell of extra play, Awoniyi smashes into a post.
You’ve got to ask: is this really what the game needs? Surely the linesman can raise the flag if it’s obvious? That rule’s there to protect the system — not the players. And now one of them is in a coma. Doesn’t sit right with me.
Can Forest Still Make Top 5?
I wouldn’t write them off. This is still a side with belief. They’ve got talent all over the pitch — Gibbs-White, Elanga, Hudson-Odoi. If they hit form, they’ve got a chance. But the margin for error is tiny. And now they’ve lost their Plan B.
They’ve got to win their next game — probably both of their last two — and hope someone above them slips up. They don’t control their own fate anymore. That’s what makes dropping points against Leicester so damaging.
And if they miss out? Well, this moment — this injury — might end up being the turning point. Because that game was theirs to win. Until it wasn’t.
I’ve got nothing but respect for Taiwo Awoniyi. Not just for the way he plays, but for what he showed in that moment. Putting your body on the line when your team needs you? That’s what proper players do.
Let’s all hope he makes a full recovery. And let’s hope Forest can give him something to smile about when he wakes up.
