Young Reds undone by 15-year-old sub
FOREST UNDER-23S WORK HARD TO KEEP A CLEAN SHEET BEFORE BIRMINGHAM SCORE THE ONLY GOAL
NOTTINGHAM Forest Under-23s suffered a narrow defeat as a late, debut goal from teenage sub Jude Bellingham saw Birmingham City Under-23s snatch a 1-0 win at the City Ground.
Jimmy Gilligan’s side had produced a much improved performance in the second half, following a first half in which Tim Erlandsson had been forced to make some good saves to keep the teams level by the interval.
But, just when it seemed the home side were pushing for a winner, a mistake at the back cost the Reds, as Aitor Karanka looked on from the stands.
The game was also marred by what looked like a bad injury, suffered by Anel Ahmedhodzic, who had to be carried off the pitch early in the second half.
Forest started brightly in the game, with Gboly Ariyibi looking like a young man keen to impress, down the left side.
He had several moments of early menace and, when he finally escaped the attentions of full-back Ben Forrest, he fed Kostas Megaritis in the box. The former Olympiacos man steadied himself before lashing a shot across goal, which keeper Michael Luyambula saved well, diving to his left to push away.
Ariyibi was given the chance to have a pop himself when Forest were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, but the winger sent a curling effort high and wide of the target.
There was a similar end result when Kyle Hurst found himself with the first shooting chance for the visitors, with the Birmingham man’s shot always off target.
Virgil Gomis’s hold-up play and some sharp footwork from Ariyibi carved out another few yards of space for the winger to shoot, but the Birmingham defence were quick to close down.
And it was the visitors who then enjoyed a short spell of pressure and a few good chances.
Erlandsson got down well to push away a shot from Tommy Anderson and, with the danger only half cleared, the keeper had to repeat the feat when Kyle Mcfarlane angled in another low shot, almost immediately. Luyambula had to show quick feet at the other end, to get behind a curling free-kick from Danny Preston, which was delivered with great accuracy, but just lacked a little power.
Jayden Richardson almost conjured up a fine solo goal when he rampaged down the right flank, beat Ryan Burke for pace and strength and cut onto his left foot, to force a smart save from Luyambula at his near post.
Forest had a lucky escape when Cameron Mcgilp hit a crisp, swerving shot from a few yards outside the penalty area. This time Erlandsson was beaten but the keeper was able to look on relieved as the ball rebounded away off the outside of the post.
Erlandsson was the busier of the two keepers at this point, with the Forest man showing safe hands to hold a crisp shot from Olly Mccoy, as half-time approached.
Birmingham were unlucky not to take an advantage into the interval after seeing Ryan Burke hit a thunderbolt of a shot from 25 yards, that swerved and dipped - but bounced away off the bar.
The second half saw Birmingham quick out of the blocks, with the pace of Mcfarlane taking him clear of the Forest defence. But Erlandsson was quick off his line and made himself big, to smother the striker’s shot, as he looked to squeeze the ball beyond him.
Anderson had a shot well blocked in the goalmouth but Ahmedhodzic appeared to injure himself in the process. After lengthy treatment, the Forest man was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, looking to be in some distress.
Forest had already made one change, bringing on Jordan Lawrence-gabriel in the 52nd minute and, five minutes later, it was Jake Taylor who came on to replace the unfortunate defender.
Gomis caused chaos when he danced and weaved his way into the box, with Birmingham somehow managing to clear his low cross-shot wide of the post for a corner.
When the second of two flag-kicks in quick succession was cleared to the edge of the box, Ariyibi let fly with a shot that was only a few feet wide of the target.
Forest were playing better in the second half, with Lawrence-gabriel seeing a header ruled out, from a corner, with the ball having narrowly drifted out of play.
When fellow sub Taylor won the ball wide on the right, he delivered the perfect cross into the centre, where Gomis was arriving to attack the ball with a powerful header. The striker looked stunned when Luyambula dived high to his right to claw the ball away.
Forest made their final change in the 83rd minute when Victor Sodeinde replaced Yassine Enneyah.
Birmingham were still a threat on the break and Erlandsson had to make an alert, brave save at the feet of Mcfarlane, after he had powered into the box.
Forest had been the better side in the second half - but it was Birmingham who were to snatch the win, in the 88th minute.
A defensive mix-up gave Jude Bellingham, a 15-year-old making his debut as a substitute, the chance to slide the ball into an empty net to give the visitors the lead, after Anderson had put Erlandsson under pressure.
It was a nice moment for the teenager - but not for Forest or their keeper, who had worked hard to preserve a clean sheet, prior to that.
FOREST: Erlandsson, Richardson, Preston, Coveney, Ahmedhodzic (Taylor 57), Stewart, En-neyah (Sodeinde 83), Yates, Gomis, Megaritis (Lawrence-gabriel 52), Ariyibi. Subs: Wright, Fornah. BIRMINGHAM: Luyambula, Forrest, Burke, Mcgilp (Redmond 79), Bajrami, Martin, Mccoy, Boyd-munce, Mcfarlane, Anderson, Hurst (Bellingham 60). Subs: Siviter, Amartey.