Good start is squandered as Reds lose their way yet again
NOTTINGHAM Forest’s wretched start to the season continued when they were beaten 2-1 by Cardiff City, piling further pressure on boss Chris Hughton.
The Reds were a goal to the good at the break after a promising opening 45 minutes, but a woeful second half saw them lose their way.
The Bluebirds did cause plenty of problems at the back early on and Forest were required to put bodies on the line at times. But they also created some decent openings of their own.
Philip Zinckernagel had a shot charged down and Ryan Yates headed off target from a Djed Spence cross in the first few minutes, while Lyle Taylor fired an effort over the bar after linking up with James Garner.
At the opposite end, a defensive mistake gifted Cardiff a chance early on, with Joe Worrall required to make an important block.
And the centre-back was on hand again, clearing off the line minutes later, after Joel Bagan had headed on to the bar.
But it was the hosts who got the breakthrough with 23 minutes gone, courtesy of a really well worked move.
Max Lowe raced down the left and latched on to a perfectly-weighted pass from Brennan Johnson, then cut back for Grabban to apply a fine finish as he swept home.
Zinckernagel had another strike charged down after the half-hour mark and Brice Samba made a good save to thwart James Collins as halftime neared.
Some last-ditch defending was needed just before the interval as City piled forward, with their physicality and long throws keeping Forest on their toes.
The Reds held firm, though, and went in at half-time 1-0 up.
It was a lead they failed to hang on to in the second half.
Rubin Colwill forced in an equaliser with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, with Will Vaulks’ cross not dealt with in the 58th minute.
And Hughton’s side were on the ropes after that, with Cardiff applying sustained pressure.
Kieffer Moore headed on to the post and Samba pushed away a header from Aden Flint.
But another goal was coming and Colwill duly got it when he found the bottom corner from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute.
Garner and Yates tried their luck in the final minutes, but it was a fifth League defeat of the season.
“It’s a difficult one to take. I didn’t think we were brilliant in the first half,” said manager Hughton.
“But I thought we deserved to lead at half-time, it was a really good goal, but you’ve got to do that for 90 minutes.
“Cardiff are a very direct and physical side, as big a side as I’ve seen in this division.
“We found it difficult to deal with that physicality, we had to deal with it better, then only way to overcome that is to be better on the ball.
“We lost that game in that period of time where they had the upper hand.
“When they ramp the game up we had to do the same, it’s not easy, but you’ve got to try and stop that source into the box.
“We weren’t able to do that, our games have been about margins and generally they’ve gone against us and today was the same.
“I understand it’s about getting results, considering the result I thought the supporters were excellent, they could see it was difficult for us and now it’s about Wednesday night.”