Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run away from home continued in style with an impressive 3-1 win at Leicester City on Friday night.
Four days on from their first home win of the season, Forest were back in Premier League action: this time under the lights at the King Power Stadium. The shortest away trip of the season for The Reds, the team arrived full of confidence, hoping to put a stop to the Foxes recent winning run.
Nuno Espírito Santo named an unchanged side, with James Ward-Prowse returning on the bench following his one-match suspension. Leicester made two changes to the side that won 3-2 away at Southampton, with Ricardo Pereira and Harry Winks coming in for Bilal El Khannouss and Oliver Skipp.
The home fans were behind their team, but despite the atmosphere, the away fans found their voice as Mull of Kintyre bellowed from the away end as the game kicked off.
Forest began brightly, with Callum Hudson-Odoi winning an early free-kick on the left-hand side. Shortly after, after some good build-up from an Ola Aina throw-in, which included a neat switch of play from Domínguez, Forest worked it well down the left-hand side to win the first corner of the match. Elanga’s delivery was cleared for a throw in on the far side, it reflected a solid start from the away side, without troubling Mads Hermansen in the Leicester goal.
On 16 minutes, the Forest captain made his mark on the game. Elanga’s corner from the right-hand side was recycled well on the edge of the area by Hudson-Odoi and Murillo. The ball fell to Elliot Anderson, whose cross was half cleared into the path of the Forest skipper, who wrapped his shot into the far post from 25 yards. The away end erupted.
The home side responded six minutes later, Harry Winks was found by Stephy Mavididi, and the former Spurs midfielder crossed for Jamie Vardy to prod home from close range.
Soon after, Forest thought they had retaken the lead. The ball fell to Murillo’s feet from an Elanga corner, and his deflected effort found its way to Nicholas Dominguez six yards out, who was then denied by a great save from the Leicester keeper.
The game was beginning to open up, but Forest’s response to getting pegged back was a good one, with both Hudson-Odoi and Elanga beginning to have success in the wide areas, and the midfield three combining industry off the ball and composure on it to gain control in the game.
Hudson-Odoi had the next good chance with a trademark effort cutting in from the left flank, forcing another good save from the Leicester keeper.
Both teams had moments, but Forest had good control of the game and Matz Sels wasn’t forced into a making a save as the referee blew for half time.
HALF TIME: Leicester 1-1 Forest
Shortly after the restart, Chris Wood restored Forest’s lead. Álex Moreno did well to regain possession high up the pitch, and the ball found Elliot on the left-hand side. The midfielder squared the ball to Wood just inside the box, and the New Zealand striker controlled the ball, swivelled, and finished brilliantly into the corner. Six goals in nine goals for the striker.
After 55 minutes, Forest so nearly had a third. Callum Hudson-Odoi curled an effort onto the post, with Anderson narrowly hitting the rebound wide of the post.
With 30 minutes to go, Forest extended their lead. A long diagonal from Sels caused problems for the Leicester defence. Chris Wood sensed danger, and his header looped over Hermansen which sent the travelling fans into oblivion.
Wood has grabbed headlines for his fine goalscoring form, but his link-up play, particularly with his back to goal, was a key reason Forest were able to build attacks throughout the game.
Leicester made the first substitutions of the evening, with Jordan Ayew and El Khannouss coming on for Mavididi and Pereira.
Forest’s first changes came with 20 minutes to go as Nuno’s side changed shape. It was a shift to five at the back as Morato and Neco Williams replaced Elliot Anderson and Àlex Moreno.
Shortly after, Ramon Sosa and Jota Silva replaced Elanga and Hudson-Odoi to add energy to the side for the closing stages.
Taiwo Awoniyi was Forest’s fifth sub of the evening, coming on for Chris Wood for the last 10 minutes.
Seven minutes were added on by referee Craig Pawson, but the jubilant away end was in full voice to ensure The Reds saw out what had been a dominant display away from home.
FULL TIME: Leicester 1-3 Forest
Next Up for Forest
Forest take on West Ham at The City Ground (Saturday 2nd November 3pm KO) and will be looking to build on their back to back wins that’s seen them move onto sixteen points after nine games.
The Teams
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Moreno (Morato 72’), Yates (c), Anderson (Williams 72’), Dominguez, Elanga (Jota Silva 77’), Hudson-Odoi (Sosa 76’), Wood (Awoniyi 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Miguel; Toffolo, Ward-Prowse, Boly
Bookings: Moreno (41’), Dominguez (79’), Milenkovic (90+5’)
Goals: Yates (16’), Wood (47’, 60’)
Leicester (3-4-2-1): Hermansen; Ricardo Pereira (Bilal El Khannous 68’), Okoli, Faes, Justin, Winks, Ndidi (Soumare 74’), Buonanotte, Fatawu, Mavididi (Ayew 68’), Vardy
Unused Substitutes: Ward; Coady, Thomas, Skipp, De Cordova-Reid, Edouard
Bookings: Pereira (35’), Mavididi (46’), Winks (58’), Ayew (88’), Soumare (90+4’)
Goals: Vardy (23’)
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 31,879