Promising signs from Garner, while Worrall rules at the back
NEW BOY IMPRESSES AS FOREST BEAT SKY BLUES
NOTTINGHAM Forest climbed to 19th in the Championship table as they came from behind to sink Coventry City at St Andrew’s.
The Reds had fallen behind in the first half when Max Biamou was allowed to cut inside to arrow a terrific strike into the bottom corner.
But Forest showed their powers of recovery to equalise when Lewis Grabban emphatically finished Sammy Ameobi’s cut-back from the byline.
They then added a second after the break when a terrific cross from Cyrus Christie was turned into his own net by Michael Rose.
There was a considerable delay in stoppage time due to a serious injury to Amadou Bakayoko who was involved in an accidental collision with goalkeeper Brice Samba.
He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and, after play resumed, Forest saw out the remaining two minutes to clinch a fine win.
Here Leigh Curtis analyses the talking points from a fine victory.
■■Garner looks a shrewd capture
Having arrived on loan from Manchester United, James Garner will have been acutely aware that he will be under the spotlight the most given he plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
He has been quick to acknowledge how his education as a footballer has been aided significantly by training alongside the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, two of the most bewitching talents in the Premier League.
Inevitably that puts you under a fair degree of pressure because it will be assumed, albeit unfairly, that if you’re good enough to play for United, then you should stand out from the rest of the crowd in the Championship.
Forest boss Chris Hughton was quick to single out the midfielder for praise after his debut against Coventry in which he prowled midfield with a great authority which betrayed his 19 years of age.
If the first half was all about his composure in possession, the second was all about his defensive instinct as Forest attempted to protect a lead during lengthy spells of Coventry pressure.
To think he had only arrived on Saturday, this was a seamless transition into midfield, which made you think he had been here for years let alone four days.
Garner will face tougher assignments when Forest tackle the likes of Swansea City, Bournemouth and Norwich City, who are blessed with slick midfielders.
But on this evidence it looks a shrewd capture. He’s already been branded Michael Carrick v2.0 and it was easy to see why United, who handed him his debut at only 17, are excited by his future.
■■Thou shalt not pass
After Forest had taken the lead to make it 2-1, they fell into the trap of what so many teams often do in that position.
Do you protect the lead with long bouts of possession? Or do you try to find a third goal to kill the game off?
Sometimes you end up doing neither which is exactly what Forest did after they scored, which meant for a particularly nervy final 20 minutes.
Given how much possession they had, a problem that was largely created by Forest’s own lack of care with the ball, Sky Blues manager Mark Robins would have fancied his side’s chances of finding an equaliser.
The introduction of Julien Dacosta as a substitute at half-time livened up Coventry’s right side, while the clever movement of Callum O’hare caused numerous problems.
They continually tested for chinks in Forest’s armour but for all of their perspiration, Joe Worrall produced a colossal performance.
He had already had a fine game but he came into his own late on when he had a sixth sense when it came to danger.
It was an immense contribution from the centre-back who never panicked despite Forest’s back four being continually put on the back foot.
It was a masterclass of how to read the game with composure and a cool head.
■■Back among the goals
Lewis Grabban has not hit the heights he showed last season when he was so often the scourge of many defences in the Championship.
He has had to withstand a fair bit of criticism as a result even though he has the hardest role in this Forest team which is to lead the line on his own.
He is also the captain and when things aren’t going well, it’s usually the skipper who is first to be placed in the crosshairs.
There has been a compelling argument from Forest fans that the lack of decent service is what has largely contributed to the notable decline in goals.
Nobody can ever accuse him of failing to do the hard yards but most of his best work in recent weeks has come outside of the box which, for a player blessed with ruthlessness, is not where you need him to be.
Too often he has been putting crosses into the area himself rather than being on the end of them but on Tuesday night the roles were finally reversed.
Sammy Ameobi teed him up perfectly, leaving Grabban to take care of the rest.
It was a finish you would expect from a player who has made a fine career out of taking those kind of chances and it should do his confidence the power of good moving forwards.
■■Safe hands
It has been argued that Brice Samba’s form has not been as consistent as it was last season, when he won plenty of admiration for some stellar performances.
But while he may not have reached those heights as Forest just missed out on the play-offs last season, there’s no dispute that he is a quality goalkeeper.
Hughton did not finish his postmatch analysis without being effusive in his praise for Samba’s performance on a night when conditions were exceptionally difficult.
But his handling in the rain was absolutely impeccable and his decision making was equally as impressive.
He made an excellent stop to deny Matty James’ long-range strike which seemed destined for the bottom corner, and what made it an even better save was the fact he stopped it from skipping away from him.
Samba also came and cleared numerous crosses and, in one moment in the second half, he nonchalantly plucked one out of the air with one hand.
Forest are blessed with two excellent centre-backs in Joe Worrall and Scott Mckenna but in Samba they also have a goalkeeper who, when
he is in this kind of form, is just as influential.
■■Silk and steel
Among many of the encouraging aspects of their performance on Tuesday night was how Forest showed two sides to their game.
In the opening 45 minutes, they played with the safety catch off and looked far more threatening than they have done in recent weeks.
Filip Krovinovic has already made a difference with his vision in the number 10 position, while on-loan Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert has also shown why keeping him at the club was sound business.
They showed great character to fight back from Max Biamou’s opener to level through Grabban before deservedly taking the lead through Michael Rose’s own goal.
But after that, Forest’s attack waned and from then on it became all about their resilience.
Coventry enjoyed a lot of possession and you can see they have been taught well by Robins, as they are a side which possesses plenty of craft in attack.
But Forest’s effort and endeavour, epitomised by Worrall’s performance, ensured the Sky Blues were kept at arm’s length.
For Hughton that will have been just as pleasing as the quality they showed with the ball in the first half.