Nottingham Forest's pre-season friendly campaign concluded with yet another goalless draw - their fifth in seven friendlies - at the City Ground as the Reds were held to another stalemate on Saturday night against Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah.
Forest might've broken the deadlock on a number of different occasions in the first half, but to no avail; Ryan Yates, standing in as captain for the night in place of the absent Morgan Gibbs-White - afforded the night off for personal reasons - lifted one effort over the angle of post and bar when receiving the ball in the penalty area.
Summer signing Igor Jesus came closer than anyone, though - on two occasions in fact. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Neco Williams combined highly effectively down the Forest left hand side and in both events Jesus was the recipient of the delivery - but twice he glanced headers just past the near post.
In truth, things didn't particularly get much more exciting in the second half; there was an instant and sustained pressure from Forest in the first five or ten minutes after the restart, but they couldn't make that pressure pay and Al Qadsiah were able to hold them at an arm's length. All roads now lead to the Premier League, and Brentford.
Here are the talking points from the City Ground.
The currency of the game
They're friendlies, sure, but everyone concerned would've felt a bit better had Forest stuck a couple past Fiorentina and a couple more past their Saudi visitors here on Saturday - none more so than the supporters who'd made the effort to be in attendance.
As things stand, almost bizarrely, Forest have played out five goalless draws in pre-season and scored once in seven, that being ironically against Premier League opposition. In fairness, this one shouldn't have ended 0-0, because the Reds created sufficient openings in the first half.
Igor Jesus, who is still bedding into life in England and at the club, had two headers flash wide of the near post having been the beneficiary of inviting deliveries from the left. Indeed they were like carbon copies of one another. Still, the net at either end of the City Ground waits to be rippled a week on Sunday at the earliest.
On the flip side
Forest had an especially mean defence last term and that looks set to continue heading into the new campaign; not only have certain players - Aina with his new contract and Murillo despite speculation - stayed put, but they're all settled and the regular back four all were in place a week before the new campaign begins.
Aina has contended with a minor injury recently and played only an hour here as a result, but while the full-back area may remain an area in which Nuno looks to strengthen the depth of before the transfer window closes, they can still commence their new season with an established and tight-knit quartet which has kept as many clean sheets in pre-season as the attack has fired blanks.
Looking sharp
With Dan Ndoye, clearly a highly talented player, in the same boat as Jesus when it comes to settling in and likely requiring time to acclimatise to the Premier League when it commences, and on a night like tonight when talisman Morgan Gibbs-White was granted leave, Hudson-Odoi took up the mantle as the prominent attacker and chief threat.
The winger was excellent in the first half, demonstrating his rapid turn of foot and most importantly delivering with an end product. There were occasions in the second half when he could've pulled the trigger himself, but he wasn't afforded the time in the penalty area by the swarming Al Qadsiah defenders.
After the sale of Elanga, Hudson-Odoi's role in Nuno's starting XI now takes up even greater prominence than before and, while he can't convert the chances he creates - which, on nights like tonight, were passed up by teammates - he can only continue to produce displays such as this, where he was as involved as anybody in a red shirt.
More deals to be done
Aside from Gibbs-White, Forest were practically at full strength here - yet you get the feeling that Nuno will want additions before the end of the window at the beginning of next month. While the starting XI is one which possesses plenty of quality and versatility, there'll still be a requirement with the new schedule to cope with sizeable chunks of games.
Irrespective of which European competition the club find themselves in next year, they'll be playing plenty of Thursday-Sunday weeks, demanding high energy football domestically and on the continent and with a short enough turnaround week to week, too.
The remaining weeks of the season are set to be quite interesting; while they've spent money on the additions of Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus, you can still comfortably envisage a scenario where the club acquire two or three more new faces in the closing stages of August, especially if the goal struggle carries into the real stuff. As is often the nature of the window, things tend to come to a head in the final throes.
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Nottingham Forest pre-season supplement
It promises to be an exciting season ahead for Nottingham Forest.
The 2024/25 campaign proved to be a special one for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. But it could get even better for the Reds this time around.
European football will be coming to the City Ground for the first time in three decades. It will be a whole new continental adventure for Forest, and they will be eager to give it a good go.
It all means there is a lot to look forward to this coming season. With that in mind, we have produced our Nottingham Forest 2025/26 Kick-Off special, our brilliant guide to the new season.
Our reporter Sarah Clapson will waltz you through what to expect from the Reds this coming season, turn the spotlight on Nuno, run the rule over one of Forest’s key men and take a look at the club’s transfer business. Our club-by-club guide will give you the lowdown on Forest’s Premier League rivals, while you will also be able to test your knowledge with our Premier League quiz.
We will also take a look at the summer’s biggest signings in the division, check out each ground and study the managers - new and old. With a full fixture list, Nottingham Forest 2025/26 Kick-Off will get you in perfect match shape in time for the Reds’ opening day curtain-raiser at home to Brentford on August 17.
Priced £3.50, pre-order your copy now from our online store and get it delivered direct to your door.