Terriers steal three points

• Forest fall to first-half Duane Holmes strike
• Despite succession of efforts, Reds fail to level scores

Head Coach Steve Cooper made three changes from the Boxing Day defeat at Middlesbrough with Djed Spence, Braian Ojeda and Xande Silva replacing Tobias Figueiredo, Ryan Yates and Fin Back. 

For Silva, it was his full Forest debut, with Figueiredo and Yates missing out through illness and Back dropping to the bench. Tyrese Fornah also made the bench for the first time since recently signing a new contract to the end of the 2023/24 season.

Tactically, Forest reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ojeda joining James Garner in central midfield and Silva playing on the left of the three behind Lewis Grabban up front on an extremely mild Trentside evening.

Carlos Corberan’s men started the match two points ahead of The Reds in sixth after back-to-back 3-2 victories and within the first minute, Sorba Thomas struck the top of Brice Samba’s crossbar with a speculative shot from outside the box.

Just before the quarter hour, Duane Holmes was the first name in referee Gavin Ward’s notebook for hauling back Spence as he characteristically burst from deep in The Reds’ half. 

Shortly afterwards, Silva was unfortunate not to score. Clever play by Philip Zinckernagel on the left byline created space and from his pull back, Silva saw two efforts blocked from near the penalty spot

The Dane then tried his luck from range but his shot swerved into the arms of Lee Nicholls in the Huddersfield goal.

James Garner earned a free-kick which he also curled into the arms of Nicholls and then Silva broke with pace down the left and his cross brushed the head of Grabban.

Joe Worrall became the first Forest player booked for fouling Jordan Rhodes, who had replaced Danny Ward early on for The Terriers.

Then, on the half hour, Huddersfield took the lead against the run of play. Harry Toffolo and Duane Holmes exchanged passes and the former Derby man Holmes beat Samba from eight yards at his near post.

The Reds looked to respond immediately, first through James Garner’s 20-yard volley which went just wide and then a quick break where Ojeda released Brennan Johnson down the left. From the resulting corner, the ball fell kindly to Worrall in the box but he shot just wide from 10 yards.

Garner then had a talking to from referee Ward after fouling Lewis O’Brien before Danel Sinani volleyed over Samba’s bar from the edge of the box.

Spence, who had been lively throughout the first period, drew extended applause from the crowd for keeping the ball in play after chasing a seemingly lost cause, before close control by Ojeda on the edge box created a yard of space for Zinckernagel. The Dane’s shot smashed against the underside of the bar and out with Nicholls well beaten

The Reds forced successive corners as they continued to push and Nicholls saved brilliantly from Silva’s fierce drive as the ball bounced around in the Huddersfield box after Zinckernagel’s cross

It was the third clear chance The Reds created after the Huddersfield opener and they were unfortunate to trail at the break.

HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Huddersfield Town

The Reds kicked off the the second half towards the Trent End in front of another crowd in excess of 27,000.

The Reds started in the same vein as the first half, with Philip Zinckernagel’s mazy run ending with the Dane forcing a smart low save from Lee Nicholls.

However, it was Huddersfield who nearly doubled their lead five minutes into the second half. Jordan Rhodes benefited from Joe Worrall losing his footing, pulled the ball back for the unmarked armed Danel Sinani who blazed over from eight yards.

Forest went close when persistent play by Djed Spence on the right created an opening for Johnson but he curled his shot wide.

The start of the second half had been an end-to-end affair and the Huddersfield captain Lewis O’Brien forced Brice Samba to tip over when he shot from the edge of the box.

Lewis Grabban fired over after skating around the edge of the box as the shots continued to rain on the Huddersfield goal and Johnson’s volley was then blocked at the far post after neat approach play by Xande Silva, Zinckernagel and Jack Colback on the left.

After an hour, The Reds missed another fine opportunity to level when Silva’s low shot was parried by Holmes to Johnson but the Welshman could only find the side netting from six yards out.

Another flowing Forest move featuring Silva resulted in Grabban shooting straight at Nicholls and then Zinckernagel shot over from the edge of the box after more good approach play.

James Garner was the next to shoot fiercely from the edge of the box but the Manchester United loanee’s effort was deflected wide.

Midway through the half, Cafú replaced Braian Ojeda with the Paraguayan midfielder getting a warm round of applause from the crowd. 

Johnson then won another Reds corner after a breathtaking turn of pace, before Worrall’s header at the far post was blocked by the Terriers.

Xande Silva also received a loud round of applause from the The City Ground faithful when he was replaced by Lyle Taylor with 20 minutes to go, with Grabban dropping to the right and Johnson the left.

Nicholls was then booked by referee Ward for delaying his goal kick before nearly letting a backpass escape his control as the ball rolled towards the net.

Duane Holmes shot over on a rare Huddersfield break and then Steve Cooper made his final change with João Carvalho replacing Zinckernagel.

Johnson then skipped past Huddersfield players down the left to force a corner as the game moved into the last final minutes and then Spence’s low cross from the right somehow evaded Reds players packed in the box.

The Reds were now camped in the Huddersfield final third but the visitors were defending in numbers. 

After four minutes of second-half injury time, Johnson flashed an effort wide of Nicholls' goal before the final whistle blew to mark the end of 2021 as The Reds fell to back-to-back defeats for the first time under Cooper.

FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Huddersfield Town

MATCH STATISTICS