Report: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Bristol City

First-half goals from Andreas Weimann and Nahki Wells put City in front, though a spirited fightback from Forest began through Luke Freeman’s long-range strike.

As the rain poured, so did the hosts’ pressure as they looked to put Dean Holden’s side on the backfoot in the second half, but an inspired display from Dan Bentley thwarted the likes of Lyle Taylor and Jack Colback.

Ultimately, a struggling Forest side would pay for their sluggish start as City showed grit and character to see out their fourth league win a row.

Full time scenes

Unchanged

For the third league game in a row, Holden named an unchanged City XI. Jamie Paterson would face his former club, fresh from scoring in last week’s 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, while centre-back Alfie Mawson captained the side. He partnered Zak Vyner and Taylor Moore, both of whom signed new contracts in the week, as they went in search of a fifth clean sheet in all competitions.

That said, they were almost behind but for Bentley’s reflexes as he tipped an Alex Mighten header on to the upright, before City began to flex their attacking muscles.

Forest had been bright on the ball in the early stages, but City were posing questions when in possession themselves, and Holden had asked for a quick start in his pre-match press conference.

Answering the head coach's call

And they got the early goal with Weimann pouncing inside the 12^th minute. It was a great moved involving City’s front three, with Wells and Martin linking up, before the former Derby County man cut the ball into the path of Weimann, who slotted the ball past Brice Samba.

It was the perfect start against a struggling Forest side but Bentley was called into action again to block a Harry Arter shot before City could clear the danger while at the other end, Samba blocked at the feet of Weimann.

But the visitors were looking dangerous every time they moved forward and Martin almost grabbed his first league goal for the club but saw a close-range header somehow pushed away by Samba.

But the Forest keeper couldn’t deny Wells who pounced with the second goal after 22 minutes. It was a move which echoed their opener at Stoke City a fortnight ago, as Martin – grabbing his fourth assist for the club - cushioned a Hunt cross into the path of Wells who lashed a shot into the corner with a difficult finish.

Forest fight

City had worked hard to this point but will have been disappointed not keep a foothold on the game as Sabri Lamouchi’s side began to show spirit and bite back. A Lewis Grabban shot which sailed over may have been nothing to worry about, but it was former Robins midfielder Freeman who would halve the deficit. He was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and he cut inside before rifling a right-footed shot beyond Bentley to get Forest’s first goal of the campaign.

The Robins needed to nullify the home side, and they did it at times after the break, yet Lamouchi’s men looked much brighter than their first-half showing.

To their credit they huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down the City defence, who had Bentley to thank for keeping the Robins ahead.

Grabban would head wide, while a diving save from City’s number one tipped away a driven effort from Cyrus Christie.

Brilliant Bentley 

The City shot-stopper was at it again with a close-range block to prevent Colback, while City had a rare chance in this second period when Weimann and substitute Antoine Semenyo combined. Weimann's cross found Martin who looked for the far corner, but the ball whistled over the bar.

Yet Forest came back at their opponents and Bentley was quick off his line as substitute Taylor looked to capitalise on a Mawson error, but he couldn’t steer the ball past City’s man between the sticks.

This was a gritty display and late substitutions in the form of Chris Brunt and Famara Diédhiou saw Paterson and Martin replaced, respectively, to help add some stability as the rain-soaked match neared its finale.

It was a nervy end, though the fresh-legged Semenyo nearly added the third goal inside five minutes of stoppage time, only his low drive fizzed across the wet surface and was tipped wide by Samba.

Then, with seconds remaining, Freeman nearly secured the draw but saw his shot deflected, with City literally throwing themselves in front of everything before a grateful final whistle ensured the points!

The international break follows next week, before City head to Oakwell to take on Barnsley (October 17^th, 3pm), exclusively live on Robins TV. 

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