- Forest extend unbeaten run to eight games with 4-0 win over Reading
- Two-goal Davis opens scoring after 17 seconds
- Yates and Surridge strikes also help sink The Royals
Head Coach Steve Cooper made two changes to the side which beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Monday night.
Keinan Davis replaced Sam Surridge in attack whilst Jack Colback replaced Philip Zinckernagel who was missing from the 18, with James Garner moving into a more advanced midfield role.
Remarkably, with only 17 seconds on the clock, The Reds took the lead.
Straight from kick-off, Joe Worrall threaded in Djed Spence with a slide rule pass down the right and the wing-back pulled the ball back for Davis who spun and fired beyond Luke Southwood from seven yards for 1-0.
It was the quickest goal Forest have scored since Jack Lester scored after 13 seconds v Norwich in March 2000.
The Reds continued their bright start as James Garner whistled in a free kick which had to be headed away at the far post. A cross from the left then picked out Brennan Johnson who saw his effort deflect away from danger.
Tom Ince was shown the game’s first card in the ninth minute when he was booked for dissent by referee Thomas Bramall.
Moments later, Johnson brought the ball down brilliantly well and tried to slip in Davis but Southwood was out to smother the danger.
In the 17th minute, Junior Hoilett fouled Spence as he looked to burst away down the right. From Garner’s resulting delivery, Cook flicked the ball on at the near post but the ball was cleared.
Midway through the first half, Ethan Horvath was called into action for the first time as he got down low to deny Michael Morrison at the far post after a Reading corner found its way to the feet of the Reading captain.
In the 28th minute, Yiadom was shown The Royals’ second card of the afternoon after being shown a booking for a late challenge on Max Lowe.
On the half hour, Jack Colback was then the first Forest man to be booked following a foul on Ince inside The Reds’ half.
Davis had a sight of goal in the 34th minute, collecting the ball on the edge of the area before driving to the byline and blazing over.
A minute later, Spence wrestled off McIntyre’s challenge to advance down the channel and deliver a low cross into the area, but the delivery lacked enough power to pick out Johnson as referee Bramall played advantage.
With seven minutes of the half remaining, Danny Drinkwater was the third Reading player to be shown a yellow card after hacking down Jack Colback from behind.
Yakou Méïté forced Horvath into a save as he took aim from the byline and looked to find the near corner.
Four minutes before half-time, Steve Cooper was forced to make his first change as Cafú replaced the injured Max Lowe and Jack Colback moved over to left wing-back. Garner dropped deep to play alongside Yates as the Forest substitute moved into the number 10 role.
Reading created their best chance of the half when Tom Ince got beyond Cafú down the left and crossed towards the far post but the onrushing Josh Laurent could only head wide.
Four minutes were added on at the end of the first half as Horvath did brilliantly to tip the ball away following Morrison’s header across goal.
The Reds had struggled to build on their electric start but went into the interval a goal to the good.
HALF-TIME: Forest 1-0 Reading
The second half began with Forest attacking the Trent End as Ryan Yates volleyed off target from 25 yards.
Morrison was the fourth Reading player booked for fouling Cafú after the Portuguese midfielder superbly flicked the ball on for Davis down the left channel.
From the resulting free kick, Garner’s fizzing delivery narrowly evaded Scott McKenna at the far post.
In the 54th minute, Worrall let fly from distance but his effort flew harmlessly off target. The centre-half then slid in Cafú down the right channel who fired wide via a deflection.
Steve Cook picked out Garner with an excellent hooked pass and the Manchester United’s loanee teasing delivery was punched away by Southwood, who was then on-hand to palm away Spence’s cross from the right moments later.
The Royals made their first change shortly before the hour mark when Ovie Ejaria replaced Andy Rinomhota in midfield.
In the 62nd minute, The Reds doubled their lead.
Worrall fizzed the ball into Davis who controlled and showed superb footwork to spin away from two Reading players 30 yards from goal, before bursting into the area and curling a left-footed effort in off the post
The striker was booked for taking his shirt off in his celebration, after scoring his second goal of the afternoon and fourth of the season.
On 69 minutes, Steve Cooper made his second change as Sam Surridge replaced Davis, who received a standing ovation from The City Ground crowd as he left the field.
Paul Ince then made his second change of the afternoon as Lucas João replaced Drinkwater.
With 15 minutes remaining, Forest added a third goal.
Spence drove infield and found Yates who arrowed an effort into the bottom corner from 25 yards for his seventh goal of the campaign and fourth in six matches.
Both managers made their final changes of the afternoon in the 78th minute when Junior Hoilett was replaced by Brandon Barker for Reading and Xande Silva replaced Johnson for The Reds.
Silva's first involvement proved influential as The Reds added a fourth goal moments later. The 24-year-old squared the ball across goal for Surridge who emphatically swept home with a first-time finish for 4-0.
Horvath kept his clean sheet intact as he put Barker's dangerous drive behind for a corner with only two minutes remaining.
The Reds had to play the five minutes of stoppage time with 10 men when Steve Cook picked up an innocuous injury as he looked to block Barker's effort.
FULL-TIME: Forest 4-0 Reading
MATCH STATISTICS
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Ethan Horvath; Joe Worrall (c), Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback, Max Lowe (Cafu 41’); James Garner; Brennan Johnson (Xande Silva 78’), Keinan Davis (Sam Surridge 70’)
Substitutes not used: Brice Samba, Tobias Figueiredo, Alex Mighten, Joe Lolley
Bookings: Colback (32’), Davis (63’)
Goals: Davis (1’ & 62’), Yates (75’), Surridge (80’)
Reading (4-2-3-1): Luke Southwood; Andy Yiadom, Michael Morrison, Scott Dann; Andy Rinomhota (Ovie Ejaria, 60’), Danny Drinkwater (Lucas Joao 72’); Tom Ince, Josh Laurent, Junior Hoilet (Brandon Barker 78’); Yakou Meite
Substitutes not used: Orjan Nyland, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Jahmari Clarke, Kelvin Abrefa
Bookings: Ince (9’), Yiadom (28’), Drinkwater (38’), Morrison (50’)
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Attendance: 28,182 including 1.033 Reading supporters
Possession: 61-39
Shots: 10-7
On target: 5-2
Corners: 2-4