Forest fall to opening day defeat at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium

Saturday’s return to league action proved a frustrating one for Nottingham Forest as mistakes at both ends resulted in a 2-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

It was an extremely tight first 45 minutes, which saw Forest reduced to just one opportunity. Nevertheless, it was a chance that should have been converted. A great team move started from the back. Joe Worrall knocked it to new signing Luke Freeman, who skipped away from the flying challenge of a QPR man to lay off Nuno Da Costa. He floated a ball into the path of last season’s top scorer Lewis Grabban, who headed it just over the bar.

But eight minutes into the second half Forest were caught by some route one play from the home side, when Joe Lumley’s goalkick was flicked on into the path of their new signing Lyndon Dykes. The Scottish striker got goalside of centre half Tobias Figueiredo, who resorted to pulling him down and conceding a penalty.

Dykes, who scored his first goal for Scotland in the week, rifled his spotkick into the roof of the net to claim his first Rangers goal and give the home side the lead.

They could have doubled their lead not long after too. Bright Oseyi-Samuel was brought down on the edge of the area by the Reds’ youngster Jordan Gabriel. Ilias Chair whipped in a cross which found Yoann Barbet at the far post. However, the centre-back headed it into the sidenetting.

Forest were offering very little as an attacking unit and needed to make changes if they were to get something from the game. Joe Lolley – who had been recovering from an injury – was replaced by Sammy Ameobi on the hour mark.

In truth the winger did make an impact. Forest begun to go on the front foot after he was brought on, but wasted two massive chances. Firstly, Ryan Yates hit the woodwork, which was followed by a miss from close range by Grabban.

Now in the number 11 shirt, vacated after the departure of Matty Cash, Ameobi linked up with Grabban with just five minutes left. The striker played it wide to Ameobi, who then squared it back to him after making a darting run into the box. But somehow Grabban was unable to grab an equaliser from six yards, a position which the Forest man would usually score from.

Ameobi then led a charge forward in stoppage time. His wide pass had just enough pace to reach Grabban, who went through on goal once again. The striker cut inside had a crack from 18 yards, but his shot crept just wide of the post.

They were misses that Grabban would go on to rue as moments later QPR went up the other end and had a chance of their own through Dykes. Brice Samba was able to push it away, but only into the path of Ilias Chair, who tapped it home to seal the points for the R’s.

“In the first game of the season you need to be patient and clever. But we were not clever and not good enough to make the difference and score.” – Sabri Lamouchi

It was a disappointing afternoon for Sabri Lamouchi’s men, though they only mustered just six attempts on goal, they were still chances that were good enough to rescue Nottingham Forest a point.

Grabban will be ultimately disappointed too. The man who scored 20 goals in the Championship last season did not have his shooting boots on, and would typically eat up the chances that he had from close range.

Though some fans are worried of a ‘hangover’ from last season, the Forest manager will hope yesterday was just a blip and his team will be able to learn from their mistakes.

Forest will aim to make amends when they face Cardiff City at the City Ground in next Saturday’s lunchtime kick off.

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