The Reds travelled to Blundell Park to face Grimsby Town for the first time since 2002 on Tuesday evening in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Steve Cooper made 11 changes from Saturday’s draw at Everton, with Wayne Hennessey, Giulian Biancone, Aaron Donnelly, Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis all making their competitive debuts, with Cheikhou Kouyaté also making his first start.
Alex Mighten provided the first chance of the evening, crossing into the penalty area from the right side to find Dennis but the forward couldn’t quite direct his strike on target from close range.
Brendan Kiernan had the hosts’ first glimpse of goal on 7 minutes, finding himself in the penalty area before hitting a snap-shot comfortably over Hennessey’s goal.
Dennis and Donnelly combined on the left on 15 minutes as the latter saw a cross blocked behind for a corner. Cafú’s resulting ball in was well met by Mbe Soh but his header was blocked on the edge of the six-yard box.
Pressure from Surridge to win possession on the edge of the Grimsby penalty area, Dennis then had the vision to pick out the unmarked Yates who fired home brilliantly on his left foot into Crocombe’s top right-hand corner.
The Reds added a second on 35 minutes as Cafú’s pass found Surridge through on goal, the forward remaining calm to finish one-on-one against Crocombe to net his first of the campaign and give Forest a cushion heading into the break.
Half time: Grimsby Town 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Grimsby came out of the traps quickly in the second half as they looked for a response, introducing Stephen Wearne and Ryan Taylor as The Mariners pushed for a route back into the game.
A dangerous weapon throughout the evening, Jordan Cropper’s long throw-in was met by substitute Taylor on 49 minutes but the former Oxford and Plymouth man saw his header hit Hennessey’s post and cleared to safety.
Hennessey was called into action to make his first save of note on 51 minutes, Grimsby centre back Luke Waterfall heading strongly towards goal but the Wales international was there to make the save.
The Reds looked to capitalise with a counter-attack on 63 minutes, Freuler doing well in midfield to win possession before finding Dennis, he drove towards goal and picked out Cafú but the midfielder couldn’t quite work enough space for a strike before being crowded out in the penalty area. Moments later Dennis went close to opening his Forest account but after cutting inside from the left, he struck just wide.
Steve Cooper made his first change on 69 minutes, after a sold night’s work in the centre of defence, Kouyaté was replaced by Oli Hammond in a move which saw captain for the night Yates drop into the back three.
Pushed on by a vocal home crowd, Grimsby continued to look threatening in and around the penalty area as a cross towards Kieran Green was superbly diverted away from danger by Biancone, sliding the ball behind on the stretch.
Taiwo Awoniyi was introduced with 15 minutes remaining as Cooper shuffled his attacking pack, replacing the lively Dennis who'll be happy with his first contribution in a Forest shirt.
The forward was straight into the action as he played a part in The Reds’ third, cutting in from the left before finding Cafú who in turn played through Surridge again to emphatically finish past Crocombe to double his tally for the evening.
Forest were comfortable in the closing stages as the clock ticked towards full time, and with five minutes remaining Cooper made two more changes as 16-year-old Zach Abbott and Dale Taylor replaced Cafú and Mighten.
A professional performance from Cooper's men sees The Reds book their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Full time: Grimsby Town 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Grimsby Town: Max Crocombe; Michee Etefe, Luke Waterfall, Jordan Cropper (Shaun Pearson 63’), Danny Amos; Kieran Green, Harry Clifton; Brendan Kiernan (Stephen Wearne 46’), Gavan Holohan, Aribim Pepple (Ryan Taylor 46’).
Substitutes: Battersby, Driscoll-Glennon, Maguire-Drew, Taylor, Khouri, Braithwaite, Orsi.
Forest: Wayne Hennessey, Giulian Biancone, Löic Mbe Soh, Cheikhou Kouyate; Alex Mighten (Dale Taylor 85'), Remo Freuler, Ryan Yates, Aaron Donnelly; Cafú (Zach Abbott 85'), Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis (Taiwo Awoniyi 75').
Substitutes: Jordan Smith, Alex Gibson-Hammond, Oliver Hammond, Billy Fewster.
Goals: Ryan Yates (19'), Sam Surridge (35', 78')
Bookings: Sam Surridge (70’)