Nottingham Forest 3-1 Hertha Berlin (Friendly) 20.07.22
Two more additions to the Nottingham Forest squad were announced yesterday as both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien were confirmed as Reds players having both signed from Huddersfield Town on long term deals.
Former Lincoln City left back Toffolo, quickly following on from his photo shoot, starting the match against the travelling Berlin with a pre-season friendly game being played at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton due to renovation works at the City Ground ahead of the season.
The Reds, fielding a strong starting XI which included recent new signings Moussa Niakhate, Neco Williams and Taiwo Awoniyi, were 1-0 up within eight minutes when Williams crossed to Scott McKenna who headed back to Lyle Taylor who found the net to the roar of the 3,000 plus Forest fans in attendance.
Taylor made it two on twenty minutes when Hertha goalkeeper Jarstein dropped at the feet of the Montserrat international who finished from a tight angle into an empty net.
Danny Scherhant then went close for the tourists who were also beaten 1-0 by Derby County at the weekend, he forced a magnificent save by Dean Henderson who dived to his left to palm away a shot destined for the top corner, but the Reds lead was finally reduced on the stroke of half time. Marvin Plattenhardt picking out the unmarked Scherhant at the back post from a free kick, the teenager heading home powerfully to give Reds Head Coach Steve Cooper something to think about at the break.
The start of the second half saw Berlin make a number of changes which included former Everton star Jonjoe Kenny entering the field along with the experienced former AC Milan and Portsmouth midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng amongst others.
Forest however kept possession well against a side they largely kept at arm’s length, Steve Cooper himself, making ten outfield changes on the hour, which gave the Reds a youthful injection of pace on the counterattack. Youngsters Aaron Donnelly, Ollie Hammond, Billy Fewster, Dale Taylor, amongst those who got to enter the field of play.
Late on it was one of those youngsters in Aaron Donnelly who crossed low into the area where Berlin defender Ullrich put through into his own net. Forest comfortable in their workout with a second win of pre-season, both, incidentally, coming at the Pirelli Stadium.
Nottingham Forest: Henderson, Worrall (Biancone 63), Niakhate (Cook 63), McKenna (Mbe Soh 63), Williams (Laryea 63), Colback (Hammond 63), Cafu (Ojeda 63), Toffolo (Hammond 63), Johnson (Donnelly 63), L. Taylor (D. Taylor 63), Awoniyi (Mighten 63).
Hertha Berlin: Jarstein, Pekarik (Kenny 46), Boyata (Gechter 46), Darida (Boateng 46), Piatek (Serdar 46), Lukebakio (Selke 46), Plattenhardt (Ullrich 46), Tousart (Zeefuik 46), Dardai (Kempf 46), Sunjic (Dong-Jun 46 (Eitschberger 46)), Scherhant.
Venue: Pirelli Stadium
*Main image @NFFC new signing Harry Toffolo in debut action against Hertha.
