Mbe Soh makes a return for U23s
IT has been almost four months since Loic Mbe Soh last featured for Nottingham Forest, but his goal of returning to the first team has moved one step closer.
The 20-year-old defender has been stuck on the sidelines with a thigh injury since September and is yet to make an appearance under Steve Cooper’s management.
But he made a 70-minute appearance for Andy Reid’s under-23s side on Monday night, forming a central defensive partnership alongside Fin Back as the young Reds were beaten 2-1 by Premier League 2 Division Two leaders Fulham at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena.
Forest struggled to get going in the first-half, being limited to two shots on target, and were made to pay for a mix-up when Kieron Bowie scored the opening goal.
The left-sided Fulham man took full advantage of miscommunication between Alex Gibson-hammond and Will Swan, stealing the ball before easing past Back and driving a low shot beyond Nicky Hogarth.
Swan and Julian Larsson both had chances to pull the scores level before the break, but Fulham keeper Alfie Mcnally denied them.
Reid’s half-time team-talk had the desired effect as it took the Reds only six second-half minutes to draw level.
Having received the ball 20-yards out, Ateef Konate charged forward before skipping past a Fulham defender and curling a left-footed strike into the top left corner.
But, 10 minutes later, Forest were behind again when Bowie, causing plenty of problems on the wing, took advantage of another defensive mishap, this time by Josh Barnes, crossing for Jay Stansfield to convert.
Swan came close to rescuing a point for Forest when he squeezed into space before shooting but his hurried effort flew into the terrace behind the goal.
Fulham could have added a third when Hogarth was penalised for bringing down Bowie inside the penalty area, but captain Sonny Hilton’s spot-kick was saved by Hogarth.