By NFFC

  • Forest defeat Bristol City at The City Ground
  • Johnson and Garner goals earn Reds three points

Head Coach Steve Cooper made one change to the side which drew 0-0 at Preston North End in midweek, with Philip Zinckernagel replacing Ryan Yates in the starting line-up.

Zinckernagel reoccupied his familiar number 10 role, with James Garner dropping deeper to play alongside Jack Colback in central midfield.

The Reds began proceedings, kicking towards the Trent End on a beautiful, sunny afternoon on Trentside.

Forest started strongly and fashioned an opening within two minutes. Max Lowe picked out Colback on the right flank after a Reds corner was headed away, with the midfielder’s cross flashing across goal and just evading Keinan Davis.

The Reds then nearly found an opener just two minutes later. Brennan Johnson released Davis down the left channel with the striker moving into the area and pulling the ball back for Spence, who forced a fingertip save out of Daniel Bentley with a first-time left-footed effort from just outside the box.

Bentley was called into action again shortly after, with James Garner’s corner being met by an acrobatic effort from Steve Cook and forcing another fine save from the City goalkeeper.

In the ninth minute, referee Darren Bond brandished his first card as he booked Cameron Pring for bringing down James Garner, who looked to break away down the right channel.

The Robins had their first sight of goal when Andreas Weimann received a loose ball and saw an effort deflect behind for a corner. Ethan Horvath claimed Jay Dasilva’s delivery and rolled the ball out to Djed Spence, who ran the length of the pitch to win Forest a corner. Cook was unable to guide his header down from the resulting flag-kick.

Midway through the half, Philip Zinckernagel shot from the left corner of the penalty area but fired an effort harmlessly wide.

Shortly before the half hour mark, Davis showed excellent strength to wrestle off Joe Williams by the byline and cut the ball back for Johnson who side-footed wide from just inside the area.

At the other end, Antoine Semenyo worked his way into Forest’s area before seeing a shot deflect behind for a corner.

Just after the half hour, Davis slipped in Johnson down the left-hand side and the winger went down under the challenge of Tomáš Kalas, but was shown a yellow card by Bond for dissent.

Davis showed great hold-up play to expertly bring down Horvath’s long kick, finding Spence on the right whilst being brought down by Alex Scott. Bond played advantage, but then booked the Robins’ midfielder soon after.

In the 38th minute, Forest broke the deadlock. Spence travelled from out wide into the middle before slipping in Johnson who, on the angle, fired beyond Bentley at his near post via a slight deflection for his 11th goal of the campaign.

The Reds nearly added a second before the interval when Garner’s cross was flicked on by Worrall at the front post, looping up for Davis to nod at goal and force another superb save from Bentley from all of four yards.

A goalmouth scramble saw Cook fire low at goal, but his effort was claimed by Bentley.

After three added minutes at the end of the first half, the whistle blew with The Reds good value for their one-goal lead at the break.

HALF-TIME: Forest 1-0 Bristol City

The second half began with The Robins making their first change and a tactical tweak at the break. Robbie Cundy replaced the booked Pring, as Nigel Pearson’s side switched to a back three with Scott and Dasilva occupying the wing-back roles.

The Reds came close in the 49th minute when Spence brilliantly flicked the ball into Garner, who played a one-two with Johnson before crossing towards the far post, however Davis was unable to get on the end of the delivery.

But six minutes later, it was Garner who doubled Forest’s lead. A neat exchange between Scott McKenna and Lowe released the latter inside the area, before pulling the ball back for the Manchester United loanee who calmly slotted into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Just before the hour mark, City made their second change of the afternoon when Nahki Wells replaced Chris Martin in attack. Pearson introduced Matty James for Han-Noah Massengo in the visitors' final change five minutes later.

The Reds nearly added a third goal in the 65th minute when Davis got away from Kalas down the right channel, advancing into the City area and finding Johnson who saw an effort blocked from close-range.

Jack Colback was on-hand to deny City from a dangerous area as James' cross picked out Scott who saw a low ball blocked by the Forest midfielder.

In the 69th minute, Johnson showed excellent skill to nutmeg Kalas down the right flank before being brought down by the Czech defender who was subsequenty booked.

From the resulting set-piece, Colback's dangerous inswinging free-kick was headed behind for a corner from which Worrall's front-post flick was deflected narrowly wide for another corner.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, Steve Cooper made his first change as Sam Surridge replaced Davis who received a standing ovation from The City Ground crowd as he left the pitch.

On 76 minutes, The Reds were presented with a big opportunity to add a third goal when Zinckernagel won possession high up the pitch before seeing a shot from inside the box denied by Bentley's legs.

Cooper made his second change in the 81st minute when Ryan Yates replaced Zinckernagel, with Garner pushing forward into the number 10 role.

Wells looked to threaten for The Robins when he got to the byline and delivered a cross back across goal which narrowly evaded Weimann at the far post.

With four minutes remaining, Garner fired wide from a free-kick from 25 yards, before being replaced by Cafú in The Reds' final change of the afternoon.

From Scott's free-kick, Weimann blazed high and wide as four minutes were added on at the end of the contest.

The Reds saw the game out comfortably, returning to winning ways and claiming a three points in front of another crowd in the excess of 28,000.

FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Bristol City

MATCH STATISTICS

Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Ethan Horvath; Joe Worrall (c), Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Jack Colback, James Garner (Cafu 87’), Max Lowe; Philip Zinckernagel (Ryan Yates 82’); Brennan Johnson, Keinan Davis (Sam Surridge 74’)

Substitutes not used: Jordan Smith, Tobias Figueiredo, Alex Mighten, Joe Lolley 

Goals: Johnson (38’), Garner (55’)

Bookings: Johnson (32’)

Bristol City (4-1-2-1-2): Daniel Bentley (c); Jay DaSilva, Tomas Kalas, Timm Klose, Cameron Pring (Robbie Cundy 45’); Joe Williams; Alex Scott, Han-Noah Massengo (Matty James 63’); Andreas Weimann; Antoine Semenyo, Chris Martin (Nahki Wells 58’)

Substitutes not used: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Zak Vyner, Sam Bell, Ayman Benarous

Bookings: Pring (9’), Scott (35’), Kalas (69’), Cundy (90+2')

Shots: 16-5

Shots on target: 6-1

Corners: 11-5

Possession: 56-44

Attendance: 28,506 including 1,464 Bristol City supporters