Nottingham Forest U23s kicked-off their Premier League Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers U23s at Meadow Lane.
Fin Back skippered a strong Reds team for the Group B opener, with Joe Lolley and Loic Mbe Soh in the starting XI as the duo look to gain match fitness following a spell on the sidelines.
The first-team coaching staff were in attendance along with a number of Reds supporters on a warm evening in Nottingham.
Following a minute's silence to remember the tragic passing of Dylan Rich, The Reds started on the front foot and were ahead after just four minutes. Alex Gibson-Hammond moved towards the edge of the box before picking out Lolley, he in turn found the bottom corner with a powerful low strike.
However, Forest were pegged back on 12 minutes in unfortunate circumstances as Rovers number nine Sam Burns closed down Nicky Hogarth's kick and the ball rebounded into the net.
Lolley was causing Rovers problems and went close again on two occassions following Rovers' leveller, seeing a thunderbolt strike palmed over the bar before curling a left-footed effort just wide.
Both sides looked dangerous in attack but The Reds controlled large periods of the first half and were back ahead on 36 minutes. Ateef Konate found Lolley who added his second of the evening from 10 yards despite the best efforts of the 'keeper.
Rovers looked to level just before the break as Harrison Wood found space for a strike but Mbe Soh was across quickly to deflect the effort behind.
HT: Forest U23s 2-1 Blackburn Rovers U23
Much like the first, The Reds were quick out of the blocks in the second period and added to their lead a minute after the restart through Konate. The forward showed fantastic skill and composure on the edge of the box, neat close control saw him earn space in the area and there was no stopping his right-footed strike.
Konate almost doubled his tally for the evening 10 minutes later, striding into the penalty area before hitting a right-footed effort towards the bottom corner but the ball flashed past the far-post.
Andy Reid freshened up his attack on 56 minutes, replacing Gibson-Hammond with Will Swan.
Swan added his name to the scoresheet on 67 minutes, timing his run well to get on the end of Mbe Soh's measured pass over the top of the Blackburn defence and finishing superbly into the bottom corner.
Mbe Soh almost added a fifth as he rose to meet Konate's dangerous corner from the right but the Frenchman saw his header fall wide of Stergiakis' left-hand post.
The Reds controlled the final period of the game well and introduced Billy Fewster and Lewis Salmon for Lolley and Larsson to freshen up the attack.
Rovers rallied in the final minutes but Forest were strong in defence with Mbe Soh, Fernandes, Back and Jayden Richardson, martialled by Tyrese Fornah, being alert to deny any potential danger as The Reds kicked off Group B in style.
FT: Nottingham Forest U23s 4-1 Blackburn Rovers U23
MATCH STATISTICS
Forest (4-3-3): Nicky Hogarth; Fin Back (C), Baba Fernandes, Loic Mbe Soh, Jayden Richardson; Tyrese Fornah, Ateef Konate, Ollie Hammond; Joe Lolley (Billy Fewster 65'), Alex Gibson-Hammond (Will Swan 56'), Julian Larsson (Lewis Salmon 82').
Substitutes not used: Joe Watkins (GK), Sam Sanders.
Blackburn (4-4-2): Antonis Stergiakis; Jay Haddow, Joe Ferguson, George Pratt, Lennirae Cirino; Luke Brennan (George Gent 78'), Joe Nolan (C), Charlie Weston, Connor McBride; Sam Burns, Harrison Wood (Sam Durrant 46').
Substitutes not used: Felix Goddard (GK), Joe Ferguson, Harry Leonard.
Goals: Joe Lolley 4', 36', Ateef Konate 46', Will Swan 67'
Referee: Steven Copeland
Attendance: TBC