Nottingham Forest striker Joe Lolley has insisted his side can not keep relying on the impact of substitutes this season.

The striker came on with the score 2-0 to Birmingham and scored with his first touch to halve the deficit before he set up Daryl Murphy who scored a late goal to restore parity and ensure the points were shared.

It is not the first time this season that a substitute has impacted Forest’s matches, Hillal Soudani came off the bench twice to score a late equaliser against Wigan, and before that, the winner in the 1-0 victory over Reading.

The 26-year-old is now the latest to come off the bench to positively influence a match, and the striker has said his side need to stay in games before changes are made to be able to go on to win them.

Lolley told the Nottingham Post: “That shows the depth and the quality we have in the squad. It is easier, as an attacking player, to come on when there is nothing to lose and throw yourself into it.

“I think the subs in most games have come on and made an impact; done well. If things are not going our way, we always have the bench to look at.  But we do need to make sure that we are staying in games or winning games so that the subs can have an even better impact and we can come away with a win.”

The Verdict

Joe Lolley has a point.

There will come a time when the substitutes are not going to be able to influence a game like they have been doing during the five-game unbeaten run, which includes four draws. 

Nottingham Forest need to start putting a stamp on games from the off and not waiting until they are a goal or two down to start playing.

Substitutes are essential to change a game or manage the remainder of the time well, but they can’t be used week in week out to save Aitor Karanka's side.

If the subs who make the impact start ahead of those who do not, who comes off the bench to help?

Someone who couldn’t make their mark starting?

If it is tough for them to influence a game from the start, how will they do it from the bench?

Starters need to step up and elevate the pressure on the substitutes before the magic of the super sub wears off.