- Reds extend unbeaten run to nine games
- Grabban and Johnson goals complete turnaround for third successive win
Head Coach Steve Cooper named an unchanged side from the XI that convincingly beat Swansea 4-1 in South Wales last week, with Tobias Figueiredo back on the bench at the expense of Braian Ojeda. Ryan Yates remained as the middle centre half as The Reds lined-up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Another crowd of over 26,500 was present for the first match with the new COVID related measures in place on a drizzly Trentside afternoon.
Jordi Osei-Tutu, making his first appearance at The City Ground since August, was heavily involved in the early exchanges as Forest pressed down the left and forced an early corner. Then, after the Arsenal loanee laid the ball back for Jack Colback, the midfielder’s deep cross found Lewis Grabban unmarked on the six yard box but he screwed his volley wide.
A fine move by The Reds just after the quarter hour was started by Brice Samba and after Philip Zinckernagel released Brennan Johnson down the right, the Welshman was scythed down by Sean McLoughlin who was the first name to go into referee John Busby’s notebook.
From the resulting free-kick taken by James Garner, Grabban flicked the ball just wide of Nathan Baxter’s goal at the near post as The Reds continued their bright start to the match.
Excellent play by Colback and Grabban down the left then released the former Newcastle man in the box but his cross from the left byline was cleared by Hull.
Samba was then brought into action for the first time when he needed to divert a deep cross by Richie Smallwood off the head off Keane Lewis-Potter’s head at the far post. From his quick bowl out, Djed Spence was fouled as he looked to break down the right.
A fantastic exchange by between Johnson and Spence down the right released the Welshman in the box. He fired across the face of goal and just inches wide of the far post as The Reds continued to press.
Colback then became the first Forest player booked for fouling George Honeymoon, before Joe Worrall fired wide from 25 yards. Ryan Longman was the second Hull player booked for pulling back Grabban in Reds territory.
The Tigers then won a free-kick on the edge of the Forest box when Osei-Tutu fouled Greg Docherty but Mallik Wilks curled his effort into the side netting.
Five minutes before the break, Forest were forced into a change when Alex Mighten replaced Jordi Osei-Tutu who had seemingly not recovered from an earlier knock. Colback moved to left-back with Mighten in front of him as The Reds reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Yates now partnering Garner in midfield.
Two minutes before the break, the visitors took the lead against the run of play. A long diagonal pass from McLoughlin found Keane Lewis-Potter who expertly collected the ball in his stride behind Spence and cut inside before emphatically beating Samba to give The Tigers the advantage.
In first-half injury time, Lewis-Potter then headed wide when unmarked in the box from Honeyman’s corner.
Mighten then produced some trickery along the right byline to cross for Grabban whose flick was gathered by Baxter as The Tigers held the lead at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Hull City
The Reds nearly drew level three minutes into the second period when Brennan Johnson’s cross from the right from found Philip Zinckernagel near the penalty spot and his looping header was superb saved by Nathan Baxter.
The Reds forced successive corners and from the second James Garner kick, Ryan Yates was seemingly fouled by Mallik Wilks but referee Busby failed to see the incident and he also waved away a separate penalty claim by Lewis Grabban.
However, referee Busby did point to the spot moments later when Alex Mighten cut inside and was fouled by George Honeyman. As Mighten received treatment both Richard Smallwood and Baxter were booked as Hull protested.
After a short delay, Lewis Grabban stepped up to place the penalty firmly to Baxter’s right and in the bottom corner to bring The Reds level with his tenth goal of the season.
Mighten attempted to continue but immediately needed to be replaced by João Carvalho.
Just after the hour mark, Grant McCann made a double change for Hull with Callum Elder and Tyler Smith replacing Ryan Longman and Malik Wilks.
Johnson then fired a cross shot from the left which Baxter parried to safety, as the mist started to roll in off the Trent.
A clever header by Garner then nearly released Grabban in the box but Jacob Greaves covered and then the marksman was denied at the near post by Sean McLoughlin from Spence’s cross as The Reds looked to press.
Hull then won a corner which Joe Worrall queried with the referee and he ended up being the second Forest player booked.
With a quarter of an hour left, excellent play down the right by Grabban resulted in a deep cross which Brennan Johnson calmly chested down to escape Di’Shon Bernard, before rolling the ball under Baxter to give The Reds a 2-1 lead.
Hull responded with a succession of corners before Steve Cooper made another tactical change when Tobias Figueiredo replaced Philip Zinckernagel with The Reds reverting to three centre halves. Hull immediately introduced forward Tom Eaves for Josh Magennis.
Samba then had to claw away a chipped cross from Lewis-Potter that was drifting in at the far post, before Bernard became the fifth Hull player to be booked for fouling Johnson as he broke away down the left.
Hull were still threatening but a fine ball from Worrall then released Spence down the right. His cut back found Grabban in space on the edge of the box but he ballooned his shot into the Trent End.
Referee Busby signalled six minutes of injury time and immediately booked Hull manager Grant McCann for complaining about a decision.
A scramble in The Reds box ended with Greg Docherty firing over for The Tigers and Samba then saved a header from Elder but The Reds held on to secure a third successive win and extend their unbeaten run to nine.
FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Hull City
MATCH STATISTICS
Forest (3-4-3): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall, Ryan Yates, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, James Garner, Jack Colback, Jordi Osei-Tutu (Alex Mighten 40'; João Carvalho 56'), Philip Zinckernagel (Tobias Figueiredo 79'), Lewis Grabban (c), Brennan Johnson
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath, Gaëtan Bong, Cafú, Lyle Taylor
Goals: Lewis Grabban 55' (P), Brennan Johnson 73'
Bookings: Jack Colback 29', Joe Worrall 72'
Hull (3-4-1-2): Nathan Baxter; Di'Shon Bernard, Sean McLoughlin, Jacob Greaves; Keane Lewis-Potter, Greg Docherty, Richie Smallwood, Ryan Longman (Callum Elder 64'); George Honeyman; Mallik Wilks (Tyler Smith 64'), Josh Magennis (Tom Eaves 81')
Substitutes not used: Matt Ingram, Andy Cannon, Randell Williams, Tom Huddlestone
Goal: Keane Lewis-Potter 43'
Bookings: Sean McLoughlin 17', Ryan Longman 36', Richie Smallwood 52', Nathan Baxter 54', Di'Shon Bernard 83'
Referee: John Busby
Attendance: 26,513 including 1,717 Hull supporters
Possession: 57%-43%
Shots: 9-10
Shots on target: 3-1
Corners: 6-5