Nottingham Forest 2-1 Blackpool (EFL Championship) 16.10.21

The international break didn’t dent the recent Forest revival as Head Coach Steve Cooper’s newfound confidence in the Garibaldi army continues with a win against Blackpool at a packed City Ground this afternoon.

Brennan Johnson, only just named young player of the month for September in the EFL Championship, opening the scoring after Max Lowe crossed into the Welshman to tap home from close range on 22 minutes. Joe Worrall spraying a cross field ball into Lowe who raced down the left to place into the path of Johnson who didn’t need to break stride to register his first home goal and third of the season in total.

Lowe himself went close minutes later, striking wide after Johnson flicked to Grabban who found the Sheffield United loanee before cutting in to strike but the wing back couldn’t test the hands of Grimshaw in the Tangerines goal.

In the second half it was the visitors who came out the traps quickest, Wintle shooting powerfully wide before Jerry Yates levelled things up, the striker netting his second goal in successive games on 53 minutes.

Under the last regime that might have broke confidence, but Forest however are made from stronger stuff these days and Lewis Grabban quickly restored the home sides lead, the striker latching on to the rebound after Joe Worrall’s attempt was saved following a good cross by Max Lowe who impressed in getting forward on the day. Grabban’s goal his third in as many matches and his fifth of the season in the league.

As the Reds went for the jugular, Zinckernagel sent in a teasing cross which eluded Grabban for a second, and as Blackpool attacked in search of a leveller, the Reds picked off their opponents some more with Grabban forcing Grimshaw into a good save on 88 minutes after good work by Lolley before Lowe again shot wide in injury time which would have wrapped things up nicely.

In the end it didn’t matter, Forest in front of near 28,000 winning in Steve Cooper’s fourth match in charge, the Reds now five unbeaten with thirteen points achieved from a possible fifteen. A side very much in form.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Colback (Garner 79), Lowe, Johnson (Lolley 85), Zinckernagel (Mighten 80), Grabban.

Blackpool: Grimshaw, Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Garbutt, Bowler, Wintle, Stewart (Dougall 70), John-Jules (Mitchell 70), Madine (Carey 80), Yates.

Venue: City Ground (27,946)

*Main image @NFFC Forest won for the first time at the City Ground this season.