Nottingham Forest were back playing football in front of fans for the first time yesterday as they beat Alfreton Town in a pre-season friendly at the Impact Arena in Derbyshire.

A reds XI included Brice Samba, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback, Alex Mighten, Lewis Grabban and several youngsters as they took on a team that play in the sixth tier of English football, the National League North, which is one division below where Notts County currently play and one up from the league Basford United are in.

Despite the gulf in class, it was a tight game in cloudy summers day conditions, but favourites Forest took the lead on 18 minutes when Brennan Johnson who was last season on loan at Lincoln City, ran through to slide home.

At the break the Reds changed their complete line-up with the likes of Jordan Smith, Joao Carvalho and Cafu entering the field of play but Shaun Tuton equalised for the home side just ten minutes in after firing home from inside the box.

As Forest pressed to regain the lead, it was Chris Hughton’s side who eventually came out on top, waiting patiently until the 88^th minute when Nuno Da Costa played in Will Swan to prod home the winner.

Next up for Forest is a trip to Port Vale on Saturday in a game behind closed doors, another chance for Reds Manager Chris Hughton to cast eye on his young starlets.

*Main image @NFFC 600 Forest fans were in attendance at Alfreton.