- Reds win the East Midlands derby at The City Ground
- Goals from Grabban and Johnson retain The Brian Clough Trophy
Head Coach Steve Cooper made one change from the last gasp victory over Millwall last weekend with Max Lowe returning to the starting XI for the first time since November and Ryan Yates moving into the back three as The Reds started in a 3-4-3 formation. Joe Worrall missed the match with a rib injury sustained against Millwall.
There was a capacity crowd at The City Ground on a sunny afternoon to welcome Wayne Rooney’s side who had won four of their last five matches in what was the 100th league match between the two rivals.
On six minutes, both sets of supporters rose for a minute’s applause remembering young Forest fan Leo Blower who sadly passed away last week.
The first shot of the match came after nine minutes when Max Bird fired comfortably over Brice Samba’s crossbar.
The first promising Forest attack saw Keinan Davis hold the ball up well on the right and cross for Jack Colback who was unable to get the ball under control to fashion a shot.
After a quarter of an hour, Derby missed the first clear chance of the match after a one-two between Colin Kazim-Richards and Tom Lawrence released the Derby captain in the entry of the penalty area but he screwed his shot wide of Samba’s goal.
Good work by Davis down the left then forced The Reds’ first corner but Ryan Allsop punched James Garner’s flag kick away and Derby broke.
Midway through the first half, neat approach play by Garner and Davis released Yates for a crisp shot from the edge of the box that Allsop parried wide for a corner.
A fine cross-field ball by Garner then released Brennan Johnson down the right but his hooked cross couldn’t find Davis in the box.
On the half hour, referee Tim Robinson produced the first yellow card of the afternoon as Liam Thompson was booked for pulling back Djed Spence as he tried to break on halfway.
Five minutes later, Lewis Grabban was then booked for fouling Thompson.
Forest had now reverted to a 4-3-2-1 with Grabban, Garner and Johnson playing behind Davis.
Five minutes before the break, Colback’s lofted pass released Davis down the centre but Allsop came out of his box to clear, with the crowd appealing for a penalty for a seemingly very high foot from the keeper.
Samba then took a knock as he claimed the ball at the feet of Lawrence and required lengthy treatment for a kick in the face.
It had been a scrappy half with few chances for either side as it leaned goalless at the break.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Derby County
Brice Samba reappeared for the second half with a large white bandage around his head after the clash with Tom Lawrence before the break.
Three minutes into the half, Forest took the lead. James Garner’s free kick caused problems, Steve Cook’s shot was blocked and the ball fell for Lewis Grabban who composed himself to score from close range. It was The Reds’ captain’s third goal in three matches and his 13th goal of the season.
Richard Stearman was booked for Derby for fouling Keinan Davis as the atmosphere intensified. Lee Buchanan was then also booked for dragging down Brennan Johnson as the Welshman accelerated at pace down the right.
Garner then intercepted deep in Rams territory as the visitors tried to play out from the back. The ball fell for Davis who was one-on-one with Allsop but the Rams ‘keeper saved with his feet for a corner.
Rams boss Wayne Rooney made a double change on the hour mark with Ravel Morrison and Luke Plange replacing Festy Ebosele and Colin Kazim-Richards.
Brennan Johnson then went down in the box under a challenge from Buchanan but referee Tim Robinson waved away penalty appeals.
The Rams came close to equalising shortly afterwards when a ricochet fell kindly to Plange who fed the other substitute Morrison but his close range shot was blocked and the ball rolled wide for a corner.
Midway through the half, Garner was fouled by Lawrence on the edge of the box and, from the free kick, and the Manchester United loanee flashed his free kick just wide of the goal.
Steve Cooper made his first change of the match when Philip Zinckernagel replaced Keinan Davis.
On 70 minutes, Garner won the ball in midfield and with Allsop out of his goal, Grabban attempted an audacious chip but it drifted wide.
Derby countered but Garner intercepted and Forest broke. Johnson beat Liam Thompson down the right with ease but his cross just evaded Grabban at the far post.
Wayne Rooney made his third change of the match when Louie Sibley replaced Thompson with just under 15 minutes left.
Good play by Zinckernagel down the left forced a Reds corner and Djed Spence then fired over in the box.
With eight minutes left, Forest doubled their lead. Johnson spread the play to release Zinckernagel down the left and the Dane cut the ball back for Johnson to slide home his sixth of the season from near the penalty spot.
Grabban was then replaced by Lyle Taylor before Derby won a penalty with four minutes left as Cook fouled Tom Lawrence. Lawrence then fired an effort into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit. Brice Samba and Lawrence were booked in the aftermath.
Six minutes were added on at the end of a pulsating second half as Ravel Morrison was shown a straight red card deep into injury time following a poor challenge on Zinckernagel.
The Reds retained The Brian Clough Trophy and extended their unbeaten run against The Rams to ten matches.
FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Derby County
MATCH STATISTICS
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Ryan Yates, Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Jack Colback, James Garner, Max Lowe; Lewis Grabban (Lyle Taylor 84'), Brennan Johnson, Keinan Davis (Philip Zinckernagel 68')
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath, Tobias Figueiredo, Gaetan Bong, Cafu, Xande Silva
Goals: Lewis Grabban 48', Brennan Johnson 82'
Bookings: Lewis Grabban 35’, Brice Samba 88'
Derby County (4-3-3): Ryan Allsop; Nathan Byrne, Richard Stearman, Curtis Davies, Lee Buchanan; Liam Thompson (Louie Sibley 78'), Max Bird, Jason Knight; Tom Lawrence, Colin Kazim-Richards (Luke Plange 60'), Festy Ebosele (Ravel Morrison 60')
Substitutes not used: Kelle Roos, Craig Forsyth, Kamil Jozwiak, Eiran Cashin
Goals: Tom Lawrence 88'
Bookings: Liam Thompson 31’, Richard Stearman 51', Lee Buchanan 56', Tom Lawrence 88', Nathan Byrne 90'
Sending off: Ravel Morrison 90'
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 29,256 including 1,983 Derby supporters
Possession: 47%-53%
Shots: 13-4
Shots on target: 6-1
Corners: 4-2