Biancone scores on debut, but Reds feel the heat
SPANISH TRIP ENDS WITH A DEFEAT IN FIRST GAME OF PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
GIULIAN Biancone scored his first goal for Nottingham Forest as their pre-season schedule began with a 3-1 defeat.
The Reds took the lead against Coventry City at the Pinatar Arena in Spain. But the Sky Blues responded before the interval and then took the lead in a second half which saw a youthful side fielded by boss Steve Cooper.
In searing heat, the game took a while to get going, with not much by way of action in the opening minutes. Forest gradually began to hit their stride, though, and started applying some pressure.
Joe Lolley sent an effort over the bar from distance. And Lyle Taylor had a shot blocked after a neat turn and good play on the edge of the area.
On the quarter hour, Gustavo Hamer almost managed an opening for the Sky Blues. Spotting Reds goalkeeper Dean Henderson off his line, he went for goal from some way out. The Manchester United loanee was alert to the danger, however, and plucked the ball out of the air.
Forest had an injury scare midway through the half when Lolley went down and required treatment. The winger, who was playing in the No.10 role, gave the bench the thumbs up to continue but was soon taken off as a precaution.
Taylor went closest to opening the scoring as half-time neared. The front man sent a glancing header narrowly wide of the far post from Nicholas Ioannou’s cross.
Still, a few minutes later, the breakthrough did come. It was a neat finish from Giulian Biancone on his debut, bending the ball into the far bottom corner after good build-up play from the Reds.
However, it was all-square at the break as Coventry levelled just before the interval. Matt Godden supplied a clinical finish to beat Henderson, as he latched on to a through-ball.
A youthful Forest side took to the pitch for the second half as Cooper rung the changes. The Sky Blues worked a couple of openings early on, then took the lead through former Red Tyler Walker.
It should have been 2-2 after good play by Braian Ojeda. However, Nuno Da Costa and Alex Mighten were unable to convert from close range.
A few minutes later, City went down the other end and increased their lead. Walker was on target again, drilling the ball past ex-teammate Jordan Smith.
The Sky Blues hit the post in the closing minutes through Fabio Tavares. For Forest, it was minutes in the bank as they were beaten 3-1 in their opening friendly.