SMASH & GRABBAN
Forest striker downs Terriers
STEVE COOPER will inherit a winning team when he becomes Nottingham Forest’s 21st manager since relegation in 1999.
Lewis Grabban’s 150th career league goal and Joe Lolley’s second half strike which went in off keeper Lee Nicholls earned Forest their first victory of the season, two days after Chris Hughton’s sacking.
Much of the credit for a dramatically improved performance goes to interim boss Steven Reid – but after presiding over a draw and six defeats, Hughton must be wondering where it came from.
And after a surprisingly easy win, Cooper has to believe that rather than taking over a hopeless cause, he has a real platform to build on.
Reid, brought to the club by Hughton, said his feelings were mixed.
“There is happiness and joy at the result but sadness too,” he admitted.
“If only this result had arrived a couple of games ago, we would not be in this situation.
“It’s been a tough couple of days but I made a few changes in terms of selection and formation and thankfully, we got the result we needed.”
Grabban struck in the 22rd minute just as he had exactly a week earlier to put his side ahead against Cardiff with his first goal of the campaign
While that one proved a false dawn, his latest acted as a springboard – and it was a peach, worthy of a side topping the table not propping it up.
Brennan Johnson steamed down the right leaving Levi Colwill trailing in his wake and when he flung the ball in, Grabban met it with a stunning diving header at the near post.
The goal had been coming. Forest’s luminous yellow and orange kit may rank as one of the most garish around but their football caught the eye too.
Huddersfield didn’t threaten the Forest goal until five minutes after going behind when Harry Toffolo forced Brice Samba into a save.
Forest stretched their lead in the 48th minute.
Nicholls was at full stretch to push away Ryan Yates 20 yard drive but the ball came out to Lolley and his shot deflected off the keeper into the net.
Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan said: “We started the game poorly and they scored from their first dangerous attack which made it very difficult for us.
“Forest were the better side,” he added.