Nottingham Forest 1-2 Cardiff City

Published on: 12 September 2021

Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy had been winless in his last five away league matches against Nottingham Forest

Teenager Rubin Colwill scored twice as Cardiff City came from behind to win 2-1 and keep Nottingham Forest winless and bottom of the Championship table.

Lewis Grabban's first goal this season gave Forest the lead at the interval.

Colwill equalised within a minute of coming on a substitute before firing home to put the Bluebirds ahead.

Forest have just one point from six games and have made their worst start to a season in 108 years, adding to the pressure on their boss Chris Hughton.

The Forest fans made their displeasure known at the final whistle after Cardiff capped an impressive comeback that moves them up to eighth in the Championship on 11 points.

Despite the pre-match talk being about Hughton's future, it was his former Republic of Ireland teammate Mick McCarthy who was dealing with selection issues until kick-off.

Cardiff lost midfielders Joe Ralls and Ryan Giles to injury and illness late in the week and suffered an even later injury issue when Leandro Bacuna hurt his groin in the pre-match warm-up and was replaced in the starting XI by 20-year old academy product Sam Bowen.

However, despite their preparation problems, Cardiff made a fast start at the City Ground.

Forest almost gifted Cardiff an opener inside the first minute when goalkeeper Brice Samba passed to Bluebirds forward James Collins, but he could not take advantage.

Another big reprieve arrived for the hosts on five minutes when Joel Bagan's looping header from Perry Ng's cross struck the crossbar, with Cardiff somehow unable to turn home the rebound in the ensuing scramble.

Lyle Taylor twisted and fired over the bar with Forest's first chance, but they made no mistake with their second opportunity as they took the lead midway through the first half when Grabban swept home - via a slight deflection - after Max Lowe's run and cross.

Cardiff came close to equalising five minutes before the break, but Samba produced a fine save to deny Collins as he fired across goal.

The Bluebirds waited only 10 minutes into the second half before introducing Wales forwards Kieffer Moore and teenager Colwill and the changes proved to be inspired as they combined to score just 53 seconds after their introduction, Colwill finishing after Moore headed the ball into his path.

Cardiff began to exert big pressure on a Forest side with fragile confidence and Moore headed against the base of the post just moments after Samba again almost gifted a goal, but Mark Harris missed the target after Sean Morrison's header found him in space.

Samba made up for his mistake as he saved Aden Flint's header, but Cardiff's pressure was relentless and Moore again found Colwill who beat Samba from 20-yards with a fierce left-footed effort.

The second goal seemed to deflate the hosts, who were restricted to efforts from distance, though Cardiff goalkeeper Dillon Phillips did have to save from Joe Lolley and Ryan Yates.

Cardiff held on comfortably despite six minutes of injury time with Djed Spence firing miles over with Forest's last attempt at Phillips' goal.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsNottm Forest

Formation 4-4-1-1

30Samba2Spence4Worrall26McKenna15Lowe11Zinckernagel22Yates37Garner20Johnson7Grabban33Taylor

    30Samba2Spence4Worrall26McKenna15Lowe11ZinckernagelSubstituted forLolleyat 67'minutes22Yates37Garner20Johnson7Grabban33Taylor

Substitutes

    1Horvath3Figueiredo6Mbe Soh8Colback10Carvalho17Mighten23Lolley

Cardiff

Formation 4-1-3-2

1Phillips38Ng4Morrison5Flint16Nelson21Pack37Bowen6Vaulks3Bagan19Collins29M Harris

    1Phillips38NgBooked at 77mins4Morrison5Flint16Nelson21Pack37BowenSubstituted forColwillat 57'minutes6VaulksBooked at 33mins3Bagan19CollinsSubstituted forMooreat 56'minutes29M HarrisSubstituted forEvansat 87'minutes

Substitutes

    2McGuinness10Moore25Smithies27Colwill28Sang30Brown36Evans

Referee:Dean WhitestoneMatch StatsHome TeamNottm ForestAway TeamCardiffPossessionHome49%Away51%ShotsHome8Away21Shots on TargetHome1Away5CornersHome3Away3FoulsHome8Away4Live TextPost update

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Cardiff City 2.

90'+7'Full Time

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Cardiff City 2.

87'Substitution

Substitution, Cardiff City. Kieron Evans replaces Mark Harris.

77'Booking

Perry Ng (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

73'goalGoal!

Goal! Nottingham Forest 1, Cardiff City 2. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kieffer Moore.

70'Post update

Attempt missed. Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by James Garner with a cross following a corner.

70'Post update

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Perry Ng.

67'Substitution

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Joe Lolley replaces Philip Zinckernagel.

65'Post update

Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kieffer Moore following a corner.

65'Post update

Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.

64'Post update

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Brice Samba.

64'Post update

Attempt saved. Aden Flint (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Joel Bagan with a cross.

63'Post update

Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Will Vaulks with a cross following a set piece situation.

62'Post update

Foul by Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest).

62'Post update

Mark Harris (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

62'Post update

Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Sean Morrison following a set piece situation.

61'Post update

Foul by Lyle Taylor (Nottingham Forest).

61'Post update

Marlon Pack (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

58'goalGoal!

Goal! Nottingham Forest 1, Cardiff City 1. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aden Flint.

57'Post update

Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Will Vaulks with a cross.

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Source: bbc.com

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