Nottingham Forest drew with Barnsley in The Reds’ third pre-season outing ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Forest kicked off the game at a sun-kissed Oakwell, where temperatures reached 25 degrees, in the new yellow and blue away strip that the club unveiled yesterday. Neco Williams made his debut in the starting XI, after joining from Liverpool on Monday, and The Reds were boosted by an excellent travelling support of more than 2,000 fans who made the journey up the M1.
Barnsley had more possession early in the first quarter, without creating anything to trouble the visitor’s defence. It took a loose 17th minute late challenge, in front of the Forest dugout, on Brennan Johnson from Luca Connell, which earned him earned him a yellow card, and saw the game open up
Forest made an early change in the 30th minute as Wayne Hennessey came on to replace Dean Henderson as a precaution after reporting stifness.
Hennessey was soon in action as he made a comfortable save from Devante Cole.
Just before half time Williams sent across in that found Giulian Biancone, but he couldn’t find a clean connection and it drifted wide.
Forest made three changes at the interval with Mighten, McKenna and Ioannou entering the action.
After the home side pushed forwards in the opening minutes of the second half, Forest regrouped and made several drives forward through Mighten.
In the 53rd minute, Mighten danced inside the Barnsley defence, following a corner, before pulling back to Worrall whose shot was pushed over by the home keeper Collins.
Seven minutes later, Mighten latched on to a long-ball forward, which he squared to Awoniyi and was blocked.
On the 62nd minute, Biancone and Hammond combined with the latter’s effort narrowly going over the bar.
Forest made their final seven changes of the game shortly after as Fewster, Donnelly, Dale Taylor, Mbe Soh, Lyle Taylor, Laryea, and Ojeda came on.