Nottingham Forest 2-1 Bradford City (EFL Cup Round One) 11.08.21

A young Nottingham Forest team which gave seven debutants, beat a resilient Bradford City of League Two in front of the most welcome supporters of near 10,000 back for the first time since March 2019 at the City Ground last night.

The Reds named American goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in the team for the first time along with defenders Finn Back, Jayden Richardson, Riley Harbottle and Baba Fernandes all given their first starts in a completely new back four from Sunday’s opening league match defeat at Coventry.

Tyrese Fornah who was brilliant in a man of the match performance partnered the more senior Cafu in only Fornah’s second ever Reds game, Ateef Konate was another debutant whilst Philip Zinckernagel made his first start since his loan move from Watford, the return of Joao Carvalho and Alex Mighten up front completed Chris Hughton’s eleven.

A confident start saw Forest in control for large parts of the first half with Bradford allowing the Reds to dictate most of the play, Lee Angol however forcing Reds goalkeeper Horvath into a fine save to his left, the best of the Bantams on 25.

It was Forest who took the lead though, on 39 a slick passing move between Fornah and Back ended with Zinckernagel crossing to Carvalho who tapped home right footed into the corner of the net.

Two minutes later it was same again, the Danish winger crossing to the Portuguese star who had the easiest finish at the back post for his second of the night. Time to get the pints in. Not quite, two chances for Bradford late on in the half might have reduced the deficit.

The second half actually saw Bradford much the better of the two teams, coming out of the traps fastest and throwing balls into the box for the Reds defence to deal with. Injuries to both Baba Fernandes and Riley Harbottle meant that Tobias Figueiredo and Ryan Yates were left as the pairing rewarded with stopping everything City thrown at Horvath in goal.

Fernandes injuring himself in a challenge outside the box which led to Callum Cooke curling home a free kick, the former England U18 midfielder impressing on the night.

As time wore on Forest relied on their break, the ball falling to Carvalho who’s hat-trick attempt was well saved, Bradford themselves prodded Horvath and co with more attempts, the best they could mustle was a series of corners with some desperate defending by the Reds, nine minutes of injury time did little for the nerves but then Forest weren’t really pushed too hard, City gallant in defeat, much the better of the second 45, they were however well beaten in the first half of the match, enough to eventually do the damage over 90.

Special mention to Finn Back who was brilliant down the right, in Tyrese Fornah the Reds could have a new answer to the Moose. A brilliant performance from the leggy midfielder who resembled French star Guy Moussi, Joao Carvalho’s two goals will also pose a question on Chris Hughton and who he should select come Saturday.

Next up for the Reds in the Cup is Wolves at the World famous City Ground, before then though, a first home league match of the season on Saturday verses Bournemouth.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Back, Harbottle (Yates 67), Fernandes (Figueiredo 69), Richardson, Fornah, Cafu, Zinckernagel (Da Costa 50), Carvalho, Konate, Mighten.

Bradford City: O’Donnell, Cousin-Dawson, O’Connor, Canavan, Ridehalgh, Cooke, Watt, Gilliead (Crankshaw 83), Sutton (Eisa 34), Angol, Cook (Vernam 84).

Venue: City Ground (9,514)

*Main image @NFFC Fornah and Carvalho celebrate the Portuguese stars goal.