Forest U23s opened their first season as a Category One Academy in Premier League 2 Division 2 with a 5-2 defeat at Aston Villa this evening.
It has been a memorable week for the Academy with six players making their first team debuts against Bradford on Wednesday at The City Ground.
Despite the defeat in tonight’s opening fixture, there were plenty of positives for Forest, particularly in the first half when they raced into a 2-0 lead at Bodymoor Heath.
The Reds looked bright coming forward in the early stages and were rewarded after just nine minutes. The ball broke loose at the edge of the Villa box and midfielder Ollie Hammond struck the ball cleanly past Filip Marschall in the Villa goal.
Forest continued to cause Villa problems and Will Swan doubled the lead after 25 minutes, sweeping the ball home from cross range after good work down the left by Alex Gibson-Hammond.
Forest were still in the ascendancy nearing half time when Gibson-Hammond again caused problems down the left before striking a shot that was deflected for a corner.
However, shortly afterwards a slip by Rezart Rama allowed Aaron Ramsey a clear run on goal and he drew Nicky Hogarth in the Forest goal before sliding the ball home to half the deficit.
It was Villa’s first serious threat on the Forest goal but The Reds were soon back on the attack when Will Swan broke down the right and cut inside but curled wide, as Forest went into the break 2-1 up.
HT: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 2
Just two minutes into the second half Villa were level. Aaron Ramsey’s found space on the right flank and his cross found the unmarked Brad Young six yards out to head home the equaliser.
Villa were now pressing hard and minutes later another run on the right by Archer ended with Fin Thorndike sweeping home at the far post to put Villa 3-2 ahead.
Forest were struggling to contain Archer down the right and he had a gaol of his own on 52 minutes, shooting low past Nicky Hogarth in off the right hand post.
It was an emphatic start to the second period from Villa who had turned a two goal deficit into a 4-2 advantage within 12 minutes either side of the break.
Detaf Esapa Osong replaced Will Swan just before the hour mark but Villa kept flowing forward and Archer should have made it five but hit the post with the goal at his mercy.
Midway through the second half Josh Gardner replaced Alex Gibson-Hammond for The Reds and captain Josh Barnes’ free kick drifted just wide as Forest started to get a foot hold in the game again.
However, Archer was soon threatening again and forced Hogarth into a smart low save after 70 minutes. Shortly afterwards, a snaking run by Ramsey across the face of the Forest box bought an even better low save from the Forest keeper.
After 72 minutes, Forest had an opportunity to reduce the deficit when Lewis Salmon nipped in front of Villa keeper Marschall and was hauled down. Salmon himself got up to take the penalty but his shot hit the angle of post and bar with Marschall sent the wrong way.
The penalty was struck with such ferocity that Villa immediately broke with the rebound and earned a penalty of their own at the other end but Forest were saved by the intervention of the linesman’s flag for offside.
Forest were looking more composed going forward and Josh Barnes ended a neat move with a shot that was deflected for a corner and, soon after, substitute Esapa Osong shot over after promising approach play.
Joe Gardner was then bought down on the edge of the box but Kyle McAdam curled the free kick over the bar.
Villa made it five four minuets from time when Young again found space in the box after a cross from the right and steered the ball into the roof of Hogarth’s net.
Esapa Osong threatened late on with a run deep into Villa territory but screwed his shot wide and the match finished 5-2 to the hosts.
FT: Aston Villa 5 Nottingham Forest 2
ANDY REID’S VIEWS
“We made a really positive start, we were on the from foot and went about our work really well. But then we gave away a sloppy goal before half time.
“I just spoke to the players about game management. This is the next level up. If we go in at 2-0 it’s a completely different complexion and then we don’t start the second half well at all. They have some good players and if you come off it just a little bit then you will get punished and that’s what happened in the second half.
"But it’s good lesson where we’re at. We knew it was going to be tough and we need to take the positives.
“I also need to be understanding that the players have been working with the first team so we haven’t been able to do as much work as we would have liked on the training pitch with our patterns and shape.
“But we will get the players back and we can start to work on that.”
MATCH STATISTICS
Aston Villa: Filip Marschall, Patrick Zito (Jaden Baber 66’), Travis Patterson, Lamare Bogarde, Sil Swinkles, Hayden Lindley, Cameron Archer, Tim Oroegbunam (Arjan Raikhy 73’), Brad Young, Aaron Ramsey (c) (Kahrel Reddin 85’), Finley Thorndike
Subs: Oliwer Zych, Tristan Goodridge
Goals: Aaron Ramsey (40’), Brad Young (47’, 86’), Fin Thorndike (50’), Cameron Archer (52’).
Nottingham Forest: Nicky Hogarth; Sam Sanders, Aaron Donnelly, Rezert Rama, Jamie McDonnell; Alex Gibson-Hammond (Joe Gardner 65’), Josh Barnes (c), Ollie Hammond, Kyle McAdam; Will Swan (Detaf Esapa Osong 58’), Lewis Salmon (Sam Collins 75’)
Sub: Joe Watkins
Goals: Ollie Hammond (9’), Will Swan (25’)
The Reds next match is against Southampton at The Impact Arena, Alfreton on Monday 23 August, kick off 7pm.