Boss Steve Cotterill praised his side’s ‘magnificent’ performance after Forest Green conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with promotion-chasing Wrexham.
Emmanuel Osadebe’s third-minute strike looked to have given second-from-bottom Rovers a third win in four but Paul Mullin’s penalty in the closing stages gave the visitors a point.
Cotterill said: “I’m proud of the performance. They’re not silky but they are honest, hard-working, disciplined performances.”
Forest Green made a lightning start to the game as Osadebe exchanged a neat one-two with Christian Doidge before he slotted home a curling effort past Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on three minutes.
Kyle McAllister then drove into space and delivered a cross for Doidge, who headed goalwards but Okonkwo parried around the post.
Mullin teed up Elliot Lee on the edge of the area but his effort was wayward and blazed over the crossbar.
Wrexham’s interplay on the edge of the Forest Green penalty area saw Andy Cannon shift a yard of space but his effort was pouched by goalkeeper Vicente Reyes.
Reyes was forced into a smart save when Rovers defender Richard Keogh diverted towards his own goal but the Norwich loanee parried out for a corner.
Forest Green were inches away from doubling their lead when Charlie McCann’s deflected effort bounced just past the far post.
Wrexham continued to press for an equaliser and Mullin had two long-distance efforts in as many minutes but Reyes wasn’t forced into action.
Luke Bolton delivered a low cross for substitute Jack Marriott but he only slammed into the side netting.
However, Jamie Robson brought down Mullin in stoppage time and he made no mistake from the spot to rescue a point for the visitors.
Cotterill continued: “I think the penalty is harsh.
“At the time it comes, it’s a real kick in the teeth but it’s another point on the board and it could be very important come the end of the season.
“We’d restricted them – and hopefully we’ve eradicated a few problems that we had when I first came in.
“We need to become better on the ball on turnover but they’ve been brilliant since I’ve come in.”
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was relieved to leave with a point.
He said: “When teams have that early lead and drop the players back, it’s hard to break down.
“We struggled to work the goalkeeper enough – the structure was right, we just couldn’t find that bit of quality.
“We kept going. We never hid from the ball, it didn’t always come off for us but there was no lack of trying.
“We got that moment and it could be an important point.
“We’re having a moment where we’re not producing but that will come. We need something like that penalty to get us running.”
Inter Miami came from behind once more to beat CF Montreal 3-2 and go three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference.
For the sixth match in a row, Miami found themselves behind when Bryce Duke slotted in the 22nd minute, and Jules-Anthony Vislant, who set up the opener, finished off a lovely team move 10 minutes later.
However, Miami displayed their fighting spirit again. Matias Rojas stepped up to a free-kick while Lionel Messi received treatment, curling a delightful strike into the top corner.
Shortly before the break, Luis Suarez turned the ball into an empty net while Benjamin Cremaschi completed the comeback in the 59th minute when he bundled it over the line after being picked out by Rojas.
Miami hold a three-point lead over Supporters’ Shield holders FC Cincinnati at the top of the East, with the Orange and Blue keeping pace with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew.
Data Debrief: Comeback Kings
Miami have won 20 points from losing positions already in the MLS this season, more than any other team. It is the first time they have come from 2-0 down to win since a 3-2 victory over Charlotte in July 2022.
On a quiet day for Messi by his standards, Suarez stepped up with a crucial goal, netting his 11th of the season to equalise. The Uruguayan has now scored in each of his last three matches.
Pioli says speculation over his Milan future is part of the job
Milan coach Stefano Pioli said criticism and speculation are part of his job, as he still does not know if he will remain in the role for next season.
Milan snapped a six-match winless streak with an emphatic 5-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday, yet the pressure remains on the Italian coach, with the Rossoneri only aiming for second place in Serie A after city rivals Inter became champions.
"We are a big club, there are big expectations, so fierce criticism is to be expected, just as ebullient praise is expected when you win," Pioli told Sky Sports.
"That is part of the job, you have to accept it all, or you do a different profession.
"I try to help the team to overcome difficult moments and play as well as possible. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes I got things wrong."
A section of Milan fans have been holding protests at matches, demanding clarity from the management regarding the club's plans after two seasons without silverware.
The club ended their Europa League campaign in the quarter-finals last month, losing at Roma.
Pioli added: "I am really sad about this situation, as we were so proud to create that symbiosis with the fans, which passed on positivity, energy and confidence.
"I have not yet talked to the club. We have another two rounds to go, the season is not over yet.
"I hope everyone around Milan can rediscover that harmony, enthusiasm and energy that helped us to achieve things that perhaps nobody believed were possible."
Al Hilal crowned Saudi Pro League champions after Al Hazm hammering
Al Hilal secured their fourth straight Saudi Pro League title after Aleksandar Mitrovic starred in Saturday's 4-1 thrashing of bottom side Al Hazm.
Faiz Selemani restored parity after Mitrovic's 15th-minute opener at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, only for Jorge Jesus' hosts to roar back and be crowned champions with three games remaining.
Ahmed Al Juwaid's own goal handed the initiative back to the dominant Al Hilal, who led 4-1 at the break after Mitrovic added another to his tally and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was on target.
The second of Mitrovic's strikes took him to a team-leading 26 league goals this term as Al Hilal breezed to another title, moving an unassailable 12 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.
Jesus' side are unbeaten through all 31 games this season after securing their record-extending 19th top-flight crown in history, while Al Hazm need to win their last three matches to have any chance of staying up.
Al Hazm's relegation rivals Al Tai boosted their chances of survival in Saturday's earlier clash after a 1-1 draw away against Al Raed.
Al Tai are just a point away from 15th-placed Abha Club in their bid for top-flight safety after Ibrahim Al Nakhli's strike was cancelled out by Al Raed's Mohammed Fouzair in the second half.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
