Soudani quick to hit killer strike
ALGERIAN INTERNATIONAL WINS GAME WITH FINE GOAL
A FIRST goal for Hillal Soudani in a Nottingham Forest shirt was enough to earn Aitor Karanka’s side their first Championship win of the season.
The Algerian international, one of 13 additions during a remarkable summer of activity in the transfer market, came off the bench to break Reading’s stubborn resolve in the 68th minute. It was an afternoon when Forest took a while to get into their stride – and Reading did carve out a couple of clear opportunities from which they might have spoilt the party.
But Forest too might have had more goals, with Lewis Grabban looking a constant threat every time he got on the ball in the final third and another sub, Matty Cash, also enjoying a number of opportunities, as his work-rate and energy made an impact after he had come on.
As it was, the instinctive, swept home finish from former Dinamo Zagreb man Soudani was enough to ensure a close to capacity crowd of 27,948 at the City Ground were able to celebrate a hard-fought three points.forest named an unchanged side following the impressive performance against West Brom in midweek, with the only change coming on the bench, where Cash was included, in place of Diogo Goncalves.
That meant a back-four of Tendayi Darikwa at right-back and Ben Osborn at left-back, either side of Tobias Figueiredo and Danny Fox. Adlene Guedioura was partnered by Jack Colback in the centre of midfield, with Joe Lolley, Joao Carvalho and Gil Dias playing just behind lone striker Grabban, within the now familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.
Forest were playing some fluid, flowing football. But they were having to be patient when it came to clear opportunities. Despite some long spells of possession, it was not until the 11th minute that Reading had their first nervous moment, as a quick counter down the centre culminated with Carvalho trying to pick out Grabban with a whipped in cross that was plucked out of the air by Vito Mannone, with the keeper making a vital interception.
It was the visitors who carved out the first opening, with some slick play of their own. Mo Barrow had failed to impress during his loan spell with Forest under Dougie Freedman, but he has flour- ished since and the winger was the catalyst for what should have been the opening goal, as he sent Yakou Meite clear with an incisive pass.
Darikwa recovered enough to put the Reading man off and ensure that his shot lacked the power to trouble Costel Pantilimon, who still had to make a big save, deflecting the ball away with his legs.
Forest’s urgency carved out an opening as Lolley delivered a pass down the right-hand channel, which both Grabban and Dias pursued. Grabban cut into the box, but saw his shot blocked, leaving Dias frustrated, as he felt he was in a better position. When Lolley pushed out on to the right flank, it almost reaped rewards, with the winger cutting inside, before striking a shot that was charged down by Reading’s defence.
Lolley and Osborn combined well down the left to force a corner for the home side but Carvalho’s attempt to give Guedioura a shooting chance on the edge of the box left the midfielder under pressure – and lead to a quick break from Reading, which left Osborn to clear the danger.
Forest forced two corners, the sec- ond of which broke to Fox, 22 yards from goal, but the defender’s shot was again blocked by the Reading defence, who were standing firm.
A superb pass from Osborn cracked the Reading rear-guard and sent Grabban – who held his marker off superbly – through on goal, but Mannone was quick to save at the striker’s feet. Osborn was the catalyst as Forest threatened again, with the left-back delivering a delicious pass to pick out Dias’ run down the centre. The on-loan Monaco man controlled brilliantly with his chest, but then failed to connect with his spectacular attempted volley.
Paul Mcshane was fortunate to escape punishment when Grabban had got the wrong side of him.
The Reading defender seemed to have clearly brought the striker down, but referee Stephen Martin did not see it as a foul, never mind an offence that might merit further punishment.
Forest made a bright start to the second half as a Guedioura shot was deflected wide for a corner. Lolley’s curling, whipped in delivery was met by Figueiredo at the near post, but his effort was narrowly wide of the target.
But Reading responded as Meite sent a header looping narrowly wide for Reading.
And Jon Dadi Bodvarsson might have done better after finding room in the box to have a go, only to fire wide of the near post.
Forest made a double change as Cash and Soudani came on for Dias and Carvalho in the 56th minute – and it was a move that almost had an immediate impact.
When Osborn fired in a fine cross from the left side, it picked out an unmarked Cash in the centre, but his first touch of the game saw him lift a first-time shot over the bar from around 10 yards.
It was the other Reds sub, Soudani, who was to make the breakthrough, in the 68th minute.
As Reading tried to clear in their box, Cash tussled for the ball and it rebounded kindly for the Algerian international, who swept a left-footed shot across goal and into the corner of the net to put the home side ahead.
Figueiredo had to make a big, big block almost on the line, as Reading pushed for an equaliser through a brave Bodvarsson header.
Grabban came close to giving Forest some breathing room when he turned sharply in the box and pulled the trigger, but his shot was narrowly wide.
Jack Robinson replaced Lolley, which meant a more advanced role for Osborn down the left side.
Cash twice came close to finding the net in the final stages, in the space of a few seconds.
His first effort was well saved by Mannone and, when the ball rebounded back to him, he sent a second effort bouncing down into the turf and over the bar, much to his frustration.
But despite some late pressure from the Royals, Forest held on for a win that was merited, after if it had taken them a while to properly get into their stride.
Forest: Pantilimon; Darikwa, Figueiredo, Fox, Osborn; Guedioura, Colback; Dias (Cash 56), Carvalho (Soudani 56), Lolley (Robinson 77); Grabban. Subs: Smith, Watson, Murphy, Dawson.
Reading: Mannone, Yiadom, Mcshane, Meyler (Bacuna 71), Baldock (Mcnulty 60), Barrow, Ilori, Meite, Bodvarsson, Blackett (Richards 82), Kelly. Subs: Walker, O’shea, Swift, Clement.
Referee: Stephen Martin