Birmingham City were able to make four substitutes against Nottingham Forest due to a new rule which came in this season.
With Forest 1-0 up thanks to Keinan Davis’ fifth-minute strike, a collision between Birmingham City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and Djed Spence left the Birmingham man needing lengthy treatment. Etheridge was stretchered from the pitch with a head injury and was replaced by Connal Trueman in goal. Not long after Forest doubled their lead thanks to Scott McKenna’s header.
Given the nature of the injury to Etheridge, it fell under the category of a concussion substitute, meaning that Bowyer was able to use his usual three substitutes as well as the change in goal. The rule also allowed Cooper to make a fourth substitute had he wished to do so, although the Forest manager did use the usual three.
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The win for Forest moved them up to third place in the Championship table. It means eyes are starting to turn to a possible challenge for the automatic promotion positions.
Following the match, Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer gave an update on the condition of Etheridge: "It was a collision between two players going at full speed,” he said.
“He came off with concussion, he was out cold the whole time he was being treated and he's now been taken to hospital. We're waiting to hear some good news.”
