Forest’s B Team were defeated 1-0 in Premier League Cup clash against Brentford as Morgan’s first-half goal proved to be the winner.
Forest were first to cause problems in the Brentford box, with Josh Powell’s deep freekick being met by Zach Abbott at the far post, but the effort lacked sufficient contact and trickled just wide.
George Murray-Jones was then called into action, making a crucial stop to deny Morgan from sweeping home from six yards.
Joel Ndala was next up to have an attempt in an end-to-end affair, cutting inside and curling just wide from the edge of the box following a quick break.
Murray-Jones was at the centre of the action once again, as he made another smart save to deny the hosts, getting down low at his near post.
However, Brentford eventually did beat the Reds’ goalkeeper, as Dickov dinked the ball to the far post for Morgan to head back across and into the back of the net.
Powell then clipped a Brentford man who was racing through on goal, and without another defender covering, he was shown a straight red card.
But despite the numerical disadvantage, Forest finished the half strongest, with Kristian Fletcher finding an angle and firing just wide, and Kyle McAdam doing the same from the other flank.
HALF TIME: Brentford 1-0 Forest
Murray-Jones was the first ‘keeper to be called into action in a very quiet second half, comfortably catching a volley as Brentford looked to double their lead.
Searching for an equaliser, Ndala broke down the left-hand flank before finding McAdam, but his cross was blocked before it could meet a Forest man.
Murray-Jones then had another two involvements, racing off his line to smother a loose ball before Morgan could make contact, and preventing another near-post finish by getting down quickly.
Following a short corner, Jack Nadin was laid off the ball by fresh substitute Adam Berry, but his deflected strike was collected by the Brentford ‘keeper before it could creep into the far corner.
With the clash closing in on full time, the Forest defence remained firm, allowing Ndala to cause problems on the counter, driving at the Brentford defence but unable to find an opening.
McAdam then threatened on the 90th-minute mark, firing towards the near post, but Eyestone parried around the posts, and with the corner leading to nothing, the full-time whistle was blown.
Our B Team return to action in PL2 next week with a North-East double-header, when they welcome Newcastle to Loughborough, before a trip up to face Sunderland.
FULL TIME: Brentford 1-0 Forest
Forest (4-2-3-1): Murray-Jones, Powell, Abbott, Thompson, Sinclair, Hammond (Djamna 90’), Perkins, Ndala, McAdam, Nadin (Blake 75’), Fletcher (Berry 55’)
Substitutes: Willows, Blake, Hanks, Djamna, Berry
Bookings: Powell (42’), McAdam (65’), Thompson (90’)
Brentford (4-3-3): Eyestone, Fredrick (Poliakov 46’), McManus (Williams 32’), Stephenson, Arthur, Owen, Holland, Brierley, Morgan, Krauhaus, Dickov
Substitutes: Wilcox, Tavaziva, Grey, Williams, Poliakov
Goal: Morgan (34’)