Nottingham Forest 0-0 Bournemouth (EFL Championship) 13.02.21

Nottingham Forest endured their fourth goalless home draw of the season at a sunny but bitterly cold City Ground against a Bournemouth side so far unbeaten under their new Manager Jonathan Woodgate.

Reds Manager Chris Hughton was happy with his side’s performance, enough so that he made the rare decision to keep the eleven on the pitch that he originally selected, no substitutes needed but critics would mention the Reds lack of invention, only three shots on target from the home side who in credit defended brilliantly, Bournemouth failing to trouble Brice Samba’s goal at all.

The result means that Forest have lost just one Championship game in eleven and the Reds are heading in the right direction under their Manager who remember came into the job with the club on zero points from four games played. As things stand Forest are now sixteenth and five points above the relegation places.

As the game kick-started Trent side underneath the lunchtime sun, Bournemouth had an early scare as Steve Cook, injured, went off after five minutes, replaced by Lloyd Kelly. The home side registering their first shot on target after nine minutes when a well worked free kick saw Krovinovic shoot tamely straight at Begovic. Bournemouth close just two minutes later when Stanislas curled agonisingly wide.

The best chance of the half came on 18 minutes as the talented Jack Wilshere started a move that ended with Shane Long heading over the bar. Garner dragging wide the next best from the reds prior to the break.

The second half like the first was a cagey affair, neither side wanting to lose, neither seemingly too bothered about winning either, the best chance coming on 79 minutes when a Krovinovic corner was headed by Glenn Murray at the near post but cleared off the line by Pearson.

After the match, Reds boss Hughton said “It was a tough game against really good opposition. Sometimes as you’re approaching the end of a game you have to balance between going all-out for the win or making sure you don’t lose it and I think probably against the opposition we had today and given the feel of the game, it was important we didn’t lose it.”

One notable mention, Joe Worrall, man of the match and rightly so after again marshalling the defence superbly, as ever putting his body on the line in typical captain like manor and saving the Reds on a number of occasions. Forest have now conceded just one goal in their last four league matches. A part of the line-up, the back four which is certainly doing their bit for their Manager.

Next up for the Reds is Swansea City on Wednesday night, the trip to Wales a tough one and one where Forest hope to rid the disappointment of cup exit a couple of weeks ago, after a 5-1 thrashing in the FA Cup the club will be hoping for a better performance against a good footballing side and one that can keep the good league run going as they aim to continue that climb up and beyond.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Christie, Worrall, Figueiredo, Bong, Cafu, Garner, Freeman, Knockaert, Krovinovic, Murray.

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Rico, Cook (Kelly 5), Carter-Vickers, Pearson (Billing 81), Wilshere (Brooks 66), Lerma, Danjuma, Stanislas, Long (Surridge 81).

Venue: City Ground

*Main image @NFFC Luke Freeman in action during a City Ground stalemate.