SILENCE GOLDEN AS ROBINS STOP ROT
NIGEL Pearson demanded the artificial crowd noise at Ashton Gate be turned off as his Bristol City side ended a club-record run of seven successive home defeats.
“It was getting on my nerves and I wanted to hear my lads encouraging each other on the pitch,” said the City manager.
“They did it well and there was a togetherness about the performance, which was really important after the display in our last game.”
Both sides hit a post with first-half shots, Alex Mighten for Forest and Henri Lansbury 15 minutes later for the hosts.
Former City player Luke Freeman almost won it for the visitors as a substitute in stoppage time with a fierce volley that flew inches over.
The match saw Bhupinder and Sunny Gill become the first South Asian brothers to officiate at a Football League game, Bhupinder as an assistant referee and Sunny as fourth official.
Forest began impressively against a City side bereft of confidence and Anthony Knockaert sent a 25-yard drive wide.
Joe Worrall headed straight at Dan Bentley from a Knokaert free-kick, before Mighten rattled a post with a low drive after a swift Forest break.
Two minutes later Ryan Yates latched on to a poor clearance from Zak Vyner and saw his effort from distance deflected just wide.
There was nothing to trouble visiting goalkeeper Brice Samba in the opening half hour. But, after 32 minutes, Kasey Palmer had City’s first shot, which took a deflection before clearing the crossbar.
City almost grabbed a 42ndminute lead against the run of play when Lansbury curled a right-footed shot against a post after a free-kick was touched to him just outside the box.
Forest began the second half well, James Garner narrowly off-target with a well struck shot from 25 yards, before Han-Noah Massengo produced a similar effort for the home side.
City were quicker to the ball than in the first period and it was a much closer contest. They had a loud shout for a penalty rejected when Antoine Semenyo went down inside the area.
Cyrus Christie forced a save from Bentley and Lyle Taylor fired over as Forest came again. But City fought tigerishly to end that record losing home streak.
Forest boss Chris Hughton said: “Overall, I was pleased with our performance, but we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough, considering the amount of possession we had.
“I want us to keep clean sheets, but not become known for that without posing a threat going forward.
“We need to score more goals and they must come either from the current team or from new players we bring in.
“Before the game we told the players to expect a reaction from City because they have been on a poor run.
“The first half was a reflection of where the two teams stood. One lacked confidence and we tried to take advantage with a fast start.”