Taylor brace in friendly win at the Pirelli

NOTTINGHAM Forest beat Hertha Berlin 3-1 at the Pirelli Stadium last night in their fourth pre-season friendly.

A Lyle Taylor brace set the Reds on their way, before Hertha reduced the deficit before the interval. But an own goal wrapped up the victory in the second half.

Forest looked sharp from the off against their German opponents and they were 2-0 up with 20 minutes gone.

Taiwo Awoniyi drew Rune Jarstein into action inside the opening few minutes with an effort on the turn from Neco Williams’ cross. The latter was at the heart of things again shortly after as the breakthrough came.

Brennan Johnson played in his Wales team-mate from a freekick and Williams whipped in a delicious cross to the far post. Scott Mckenna’s header across goal looked to be going in but Taylor made sure with nine minutes on the clock.

Ten minutes later, the striker was on the scoresheet again. Williams played a ball through for Awoniyi to chase, Jarstein dived at the front man’s feet but spilled the ball directly into Taylor’s path. It was a terrific finish to sweep the ball in from a tight angle.

Dean Henderson pulled off a stunning save to keep it at 2-0 just before the half hour, pushing away a curling strike from Derry Scherhant.

Lucas Tousart and Vladimir Darida then both tried their luck, before Scherhant pulled one back with a header on the stroke of half-time.

Chances were harder to come by for both sides in the second half, with boss Steve Cooper changing all 10 outfield players on the hour mark.

An own goal from Lukas Ullrich made it 3-1 as he turned Aaron Donnelly’s cross into his own net.