Nottingham Forest went a fifth pre-season game without a victory as they fell 1-0 to Birmingham City in the West Midlands.
Nuno Espirito Santo named a strong starting XI for his team’s fifth run-out of the summer, with new signing Dan Ndoye thrown straight into the fray. But the visitors struggled to get going in the early stages of the Trevor Francis Memorial Match.
By contrast, [their opponents looked sharp and caused the Reds a few problems.](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/match-reports/nottingham-forest-live-updates-birmingham-10388794) Shortly after going close with a driven effort across the face, Jay Stansfield opened the scoring for the Blues in the 22nd minute when he punished some poor Forest defending.
It took until just past the half-hour mark for the Reds to register their first meaningful effort at goal. Dan Ndoye hit the bar with a fierce strike from a tight angle after good interplay between Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White.
The latter had an opportunity of his own shortly after the interval but Ryan Allsop was equal to his effort from outside the area. Likewise, Chris Wood was unable to get the better of the Blues goalkeeper in the final minutes as his tame strike was comfortably gathered. Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
Matz Sels: Tested a few times as the Blues looked sharp and had the visitors on the back foot. Wasn’t helped out by his defenders for the goal conceded but mopped up a few other attacks.
Jair Cunha: Asked to play right-back as Forest’s shortage of full-backs continues to stick out like a sore thumb. Tricky for the tall defender to get forward to the same extent as Ola Aina usually does. Did a job, though.
Nikola Milenkovic: Steady enough, even if Forest as a back line had a few shaky moments. Looked to cause problems at the opposite end of the pitch by getting in the mix at set-pieces.
Murillo: Having a few wobbles in pre-season seems to be something of a tradition for the centre-back. Fortunately for the Reds he tends to find his form when the serious action begins. Guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous positions a few times on this occasion.
Morato: Played at left-back - not a completely alien role to the Brazilian but hardly one he favours. Not his best outing. Got turned on more than one occasion, including by Stansfield for the opening goal.
Ibrahim Sangare: Took charge of the midfield and was generally quite busy. The Reds were certainly given a workout as the home side looked sharp and put them under pressure. Continued his good pre-season form.
Elliot Anderson: Played a few nice passes and looked pretty lively throughout, even when Forest were finding it difficult to create any kind of rhythm. Took on some of the set-piece duties.
Dan Ndoye: Straight into the starting XI for the new man, a matter of days after putting pen to paper. Hit the woodwork with Forest’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes but a difficult outing to judge him on overall.
Morgan Gibbs-White: Couldn’t quite impose himself on the game in the way he is capable of as the Reds struggled for creativity. A few decent touches and tested the keeper with his second-half effort but it was tough going for the most part for the visitors.
Callum Hudson-Odoi: A few moments where he threatened and looked to put the Blues on the back foot. On paper, the combination of the ex-Chelsea man, Gibbs-White and Ndoye looks promising. Might just need a bit of time for it to come together.
Igor Jesus: A different ask for the summer signing, playing on his own without Chris Wood up front with him. Didn’t see a great deal of the ball, although nice link-up with Gibbs-White created the opportunity for Ndoye before the break.
Subs
Chris Wood (for Jesus, 46mins): Ought to have done better with his opportunity in the final minutes of the game. Forest didn’t have too many chances but that was a good one. Would have been a confidence booster to have found the net, if nothing else.
Jota Silva (for Hudson-Odoi, 69mins): Continues to be the subject of plenty of transfer speculation, with a question mark over his future Trentside. Forest really need more options out wide before they can let him go, though.
Ryan Yates (for Anderson, 69mins): Battled away when he came on, as he usually does. Not a game where Forest had a great deal of control in the centre of the pitch, though.
Eric da Silva Moreira (for Jair, 69mins): It has been a while since the youngster has been out on the pitch for the Reds. His first run-out of pre-season, so some valuable minutes for him.
Taiwo Awoniyi (for Gibbs-White, 69mins): Worked the goalkeeper with a well-struck attempt in the closing stages. Put himself about a bit as the Reds tried to finish the game positively and looked pretty sharp.
Omar Richards (for Morato, 69mins): A question mark over whether he will still be a Forest player by the end of the transfer window. Given an opportunity in the West Midlands but difficult to judge how he did.
Zach Abbott (for Murillo, 69mins): More minutes in the bank for the youngster. Continues to look like a very good prospect.
David Carmo (for Milenkovic, 69mins): Still a Reds player for now. Remains to be seen whether he will have a part to play this coming season, though.
Willy Boly (for Ndoye, 69mins): Added experience to a reshuffled back line with 20 minutes to go. Not a great deal to read into how those minutes panned out.
Subs not used: Miguel, Bott, Williams.
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