Nottingham Forest returned to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon as The Reds hosted AFC Bournemouth at The City Ground.
Steve Cooper made two changes from the side that was defeated at Manchester City, with Steve Cook and Jesse Lingard returning to the side in place of Lewis O’Brien and Remo Freuler.
Reds had a bright start on Trentside and were on the attack through Renan Lodi on three minutes, the Brazil international wriggled free from Adam Smith before being fouled by the visiting full-back. Morgan Gibbs-White’s resulting free-kick was met by Joe Worrall but his header was cleared to safety.
Moments later, Lingard found the run of Brennan Johnson but as the forward fired towards goal his effort was well blocked by The Cherries’ defence.
Forest earned a corner on 19 minutes after a good move on the right resulted in Johnson’s cross being deflected behind. Gibbs-White’s delivery was cleared as far as Williams but the wing-back couldn’t quite keep his effort on target.
On 34 minutes, The Reds were ahead. Lodi saw his effort at the back-post deflected behind for a corner, Gibbs-White delivery was perfect for Cheikhou Kouyaté to rise up and bullet a header past Neto for his first goal in the Garibaldi.
Forest doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as Johnson notched his second goal of the campaign, this time from the penalty spot. Referee Michael Oliver adjudged Williams’ strike to be blocked by the hand of Lloyd Kelly and after reviewing the decision via the pitchside VAR monitor, the penalty stood, and Brennan confidently dispatched to Neto’s left-hand side.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 2-0 AFC Bournemouth
Five minutes into the second half, the visitors halved the deficit. Philip Billing unleashed a fantastic left-footed strike which gave Dean Henderson no chance from 25 yards.
The Reds went close to restoring the two-goal lead as Gibbs-White found Lingard before the attacking midfielder delivered a dangerous cross towards Johnson but the ball was just out of reach for the Wales international as he stretched to make contact at the far-post.
Just after the hour mark, Bournemouth levelled. Marcus Tavernier’s corner was headed back across goal by Kelly to find Dominic Solanke, and his acrobatic effort found the back of the net.
Steve Cooper’s first change of the afternoon came on 67 minutes as Taiwo Awoniyi replaced Lingard, before Jack Colback replaced goalscorer Kouyaté on 76 minutes and Emmanuel Dennis entered the action to replace Johnson.
With just a couple of minutes remaining on Trentside, the visitors took the lead. Solanke stole possession on the right before picking out Jaidon Anthony in space inside the penalty area and the substitute struck the ball past Henderson just moments after entering the action from the bench.
As four minutes of injury time were shown, Awoniyi came closest to finding an equaliser after a neat touch to control McKenna’s header allowed the Nigerian a strike at goal but fired wide under pressure.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 2-3 AFC Bournemouth
Forest: Dean Henderson; Joe Worrall, Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Cheikhou Kouyaté (Jack Colback 76’), Renan Lodi; Jesse Lingard (Taiwo Awoniyi 67’), Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson (Emmanuel Dennis 85’)
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Giulian Biancone, Willy Boly, Harry Toffolo, Remo Freuler
Goals: Kouyaté (33’), Johnson (45+2’)
Bournemouth: Neto; Adam Smith, Chris Mepham, Lloyd Kelly, Jordan Zemura (Ryan Fredericks 46’); Marcus Tavernier, Lewis Cook, Jefferson Lerma, Ryan Christie (Jaidon Anthony 85’); Philip Billing (Keiffer Moore 90’), Dominic Solanke (Jack Stacey 90’)
Substitutes: Mark Travers, Marcos Senasi, Jack Stephens, Emiliano Marcondes, Siriki Dembele
Goals: Billing (51’), Solanke (63’), Anthony (88’)