- Surridge strike earns Reds all three points at Weston Homes Stadium
- Victory lifts Forest to fourth in race for top-six finish
Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper named an unchanged side from Monday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at The City Ground. On the bench, Lewis Grabban returned from illness at the expense of Xande Silva.
The hosts Peterborough went into the match needing a victory to keep their slim hopes of staying in the Championship alive, with Forest starting the match in fifth place in the table.
The Reds kicked off on a sunny afternoon at London Road in their luminous third kit backed by over 3,700 Forest supporters.
Forest had more of the ball in the opening exchanges but it was Grant McCann’s side who fashioned the first opening after nine minutes. Harrison Burrows fed Ricky Jade-Jones in the box and he escaped Tobias Figueiredo before forcing Brice Samba into a smart save with his feet.
Just after the quarter hour, Joe Worrall headed a dangerous cross from Josh Knight behind for the first corner of the match. From the flag kick, Forest were unable to clear but Frankie Kent fired harmlessly over the bar.
After 20 minutes, Referee Michael Salisbury produced his first booking of the afternoon when Harrison Burrows fouled Djed Spence as the Forest man pushed the ball past him just outside the Peterborough box.
James Garner’s free kick was cleared but Forest then won their first corner of the match shortly afterwards. However, Ryan Yates was adjudged to have fouled Posh ‘keeper Dai Cornell from Garner’s inswinging corner.
Yates was involved again shortly afterwards when he was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Jack Taylor that resulted in the home side’s second caution of the afternoon.
Just before the half hour, Spence and Philip Zinckernagel combined down the right hand side with the Dane’s cut back from the byline cleared by Posh with Sam Surridge lurking.
Soon after, Spence crossed from the right but the ball was just too high for Surridge and Brennan Johnson was unable to collect the loose ball.
Forest immediately threatened down the right again, with Zinckernagel shooting low and Cornell saving after the loan man was released by Johnson.
Worrall and Surridge were both spoken to by referee Salisbury as the game became slightly fractious, before the former Stoke man nearly evaded last man Josh Knight as Forest countered and won another corner kick that was cleared.
Johnson was then fouled late by Sammie Szmodics but the hosts dealt with Garner’s free kick.
Forest threatened again when Spence released Zinckernagel in the box but Posh managed to snuff out the danger when Johnson crossed for Surridge.
Forest had looked increasingly dangerous down the right as the half had progressed and, on the stroke of half time, they took the lead.
Zinckernagel fed Johnson, this time down the left, and his pin-point cross to the far post was headed back across Cornell’s goal by Surridge and into the far corner for his fifth goal of the season.
Surridge was then inches away from Spence’s cross from the right although the linesman’s flag was raised, and The Reds went into the break one goal up.
HALF-TIME: Peterborough United 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Grant McCann’s introduced former Derby man Jack Marriott at the break to replace Ricky-Jade Jones, as the hosts kicked off and forced an early corner which Frankie Kent glanced well wide.
Forest quickly countered after a Djed Spence interception and Philip Zinckernagel fed Sam Surridge but his curling shot was blocked.
Five minutes into the second half, Forest countered again after a tackle by Jack Colback on the edge of the Forest box and, after an exchange with Ryan Yates, Zinckernagel shot wide.
Harrison Burrows long shot was then comfortably dealt with by Brice Samba and Marriott also shot straight at the keeper, as Posh looked to build pressure with Forest content to respond on the break.
On the hour mark, Zinckernagel fed Brennan Johnson who found a yard of space on the edge of the box but Josh Knight made a vital block. Yates then headed James Garner’s corner over the bar.
It was the Dane’s last action of the match as he was then replaced by Joe Lolley.
The hosts threatened when Sammie Szmodics forced Samba into a low save at his near post after Forest lost possession in their own third.
Midway through the half, Joel Randall replaced Jeando Fuchs for Posh and Szmodics was then the third Peterborough player booked when he fouled Lolley.
With twenty minutes left, Lolley fed Colback whose fierce drive from the edge of the box was well saved by Dai Cornell and the resulting corner came to nothing.
On 73 minutes, Surridge was the first Forest man to be booked by referee Michael Salisbury for fouling Knight in the Posh half. The goalscorer was then replaced by Lewis Grabban as Steve Cooper made his second substitution of the afternoon.
Spence then won a corner after a marauding run and Grabban nearly spun and shot from close range but Posh scrambled the ball away to safety.
With ten minutes left, Grabban had the chance to double The Reds when released by a lovely reverse pass by James Garner in his own half but the shot was saved by Cornell.
Samba was then forced to save at his near post from Burrows effort s the hosts looked to respond after a spell of Forest pressure.
With five minutes left, Johnson’s through ball found Grabban who finished comfortably but the assistant referee’s flag was raised. Seconds later, Lolley’s driven cross found Grabban unmarked eight yards form goal but he diverted his effort wide.
Colback was booked with three minutes left having been adjusted to have fouled Knight.
Forest were then forced into another substitution as Grabban pulled up and he was replaced Cafu.
Samba was booked for delaying his restart as the game moved into injury time, with four minutes added.
The Reds held on to record their ninth away win of the season, with a seventh win in eight league matches taking Steve Cooper's side up to fourth in the Championship.
FULL-TIME: Peterborough United 0-1 Nottingham Forest
MATCH STATISTICS
Peterborough United (3-4-1-2): Dai Cornell; Josh Knight, Ronnie Edwards, Frankie Kent; Sammie Szmodics, Jeando Fuchs (Joel Randall 66’), Jack Taylor, Harrison Burrows; Kwame Poku; Ricky-Jade Jones (Jack Marriott 45’), Jonson Clarke-Harris (c)
Substitutes not used: Will Blackmore (gk), Mark Beevers, Reece Brown, Jorge Grant, Bali Mumba, Joel Randall
Bookings: Burrows (19’), Taylor (25’), Szmodics (67’)
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall (c), Tobias Figueiredo, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Ryan Yates, James Garner, Jack Colback; Philip Zinckernagel (Joe Lolley 60’); Brennan Johnson, Sam Surridge (Lewis Grabban 74’, Cafu 88’)
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (gk), Richie Laryea, Alex Mighten, Steve Cook
Goals: Surridge (45’)
Bookings: Surridge (73’), Colback (87’), Samba (90’)
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Attendance: 12,817 including 3,599 Forest supporters
Possession: 45-55
Shots: 11-12
On target: 5-4
Corners: 5-5