Nottingham Forest 0-1 Coventry City

                                                        Dasilva 55'

Coventry found themselves bottom of the table after 4 game weeks, after failing to pick up a point or score a goal so far whilst conceding 12 goals. With just 1 win a home in 2026 (only Spurs have earned less points at home since last Christmas), Forest welcomed the newly promoted side. You just knew what was going to happen.

Last weekend, Forest picked up their first 3 points of the season away at Villa Park, winning 2-1, thanks to Delap’s first goal in the Garibaldi and a late winner from Igor Jesus. Glasner named one change from the game as Jair Cunha returned from injury to replace Ola Aina. A win today would see them go into the international break in the top half of the table, after going on a 3 game unbeaten streak since the loss to Leeds on the opening day. After coming up from the Championship last season, Coventry knew it would be a difficult return to the Premier League after 25 years away but they might not have expected it to be this difficult. Last weekend’s 5-0 thumping at home to Brighton, extended their poor start to the season. They were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after Villa’s trip to the CBS Arena saw the visitors win 3-1. From their last league game, Frank Lampard made 3 changes. One of which was the replacement of Awoniyi, who couldn’t face his former side due to suspension.

These two last faced off in the Premier League was back in 1999, when the Sky Blues came out 4-0 winners. Their last meeting came back in Forest’s promotion winning season when the Reds won 2-0 at the City Ground after goals from Brennan Johnson and James Garner. This extended Forest’s at home winning record against Coventry to 6.

The hosts were the better side in the opening 20 minutes but neither side really got themselves going. Dan Ndoye had the best chance in this period. Delap received the ball from McAtee 30 yards from goal on the turn. He cut inside, looking to get into a more central position to get a shot off at goal. Coventry shirts started to swarm him and he struggled to keep control of the ball so he had to slide in to keep possession for his side. Ndoye picked up the ball and took a few touches before shooting from the edge of the box. He was looking for the top right corner but the effort sailed just over.

As the rest of the half went on, the attacking play from both sides was still lacking with neither ‘keeper really being tested. However, Delap had a decent opportunity to put the hosts ahead. Forest were looking to build from the back as Murillo had the ball inside the Coventry half. However, he looked to have wasted the attack, passing the ball straight to Onyeka. The Brazilian managed to win the ball back and it bounced off him and into the path of Delap. He turned and took a few touches before firing towards the bottom left corner. Unfortunately for him, the ball rolled just wide. This game looked set to be a 0-0.

Somehow, Forest always manage to go behind in these types of games and they were punished after a defensive error. From just outside his box, ‘keeper Carl Rushworth, spotted the run of Jay Dasilva down the left and played a long diagonal ball for him. Munoz may have thought he could win the duel but Dasilva bought the ball down with a brilliant touch to take it away from him and bear down on goal. The angle was slightly tight but the Welshman was helped by Sels going down and showing him the whole right side of the goal. He ran onto the ball and lifted the ball over the ‘keeper first time to score his first ever Coventry goal. The Sky Blues have never failed to score in their first 3 away league games since 1998-99.

Glasner struggled against newly promoted sides when he was in charge at Palace. He has only managed just 1 point in his last 4 meetings against them. In an attempt to spark Forest into life, he turned to Igor Jesus on his bench. His side looked much better after this substitution and his side played with more urgency. The Brazilian would’ve thought he had come on and scored but Bobby Thomas had other ideas. Schlager found Gibbs-White on the edge of the box who turned and spotted the run of Jesus just to the right of him towards the byline. Rushworth came out to meet him but Jesus got there first. The angle was tight so his only option was to chip the ‘keeper from the top right corner of the 6 yard box. Most people inside the City Ground thought that it was bouncing over the line but Thomas got back to hook it clear just in time.

Forest were pinning Coventry back deep into their own half for the remainder of the game and they thought they finally had something to show for it. Last weekend, Jesus scored just before the 90 was up and he thought he had done the same again to equalise for his side. Schlager found Wood on the edge of the ‘D’ but he had his back towards goal so flicked the ball to Jesus on the edge of the box, looking to run into the area. However, Yirenkyi picked up the pass before the Brazilian. Yirenkyi looked to have just fumbled over, so Jesus continued to press and picked up the ball from the edge of the 6 yard box before rolling it into the bottom right corner.

At the time, the referee deemed Yirenkyi to have just fallen over but VAR disagreed and sent him to the monitor. After an on-field review, Jarod Gillett changed his original decision after seeing Jesus had caught Yirenkyi’s heel which caused him to fall. Coventry ticked the clock down, frustrating Forest, and they managed to hold on for their first win of the season to lift themselves off bottom. They host Newcastle after the international break. Forest’s home form is becoming a greater concern and this is their first time ever not scoring in their first 3 home games in the league. They have more time to adapt to Glasner’s style of play over the break before taking the trip to Croydon to face his former side.

Yesterday wasn’t good enough. I think we turned up expecting to win and we gave Coventry too much respect which you can’t do against any opponent in this league. We just didn’t seem to click like we did last week in the attacking areas and when you can’t create against a side that haven’t won yet and just got beaten 5-0 at home, you don’t deserve to take any points away. The goal we conceded was so frustrating too as Munoz has been beaten by a long ball. I don’t know why we just aren’t clicking at home but we’ve got 3 weeks to get on the training ground and learn more about Glasner’s way. Usually, I am against VAR but you can see that Jesus does catch his heel. Ndoye is becoming really frustrating and we looked much better when Jesus comes on and I would like to see him getting a start after the break.

Forest: Sels; Murillo, Diomande (Wood 73'), Cunha; Williams, Schlager, McAtee (Sangare 83'), Munoz (Netz 83'); Gibbs-White, Ndoye (Jesus 59'); Delap 

Coventry City: Rushworth; Pinnock, Thomas, Mfuni; Dasilva, Grimes, Onyeka, Yirenkyi (Latibeaudiere 90'); Mason-Clark (Tchaouna 46'), Thomas-Asante, Rudoni (Simms 74')