Nottingham Forest faced a challenging pre-season encounter against Birmingham City, where new signing Dan Ndoye made his much-anticipated debut amidst a 1-0 defeat for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
The friendly at St Andrew’s saw Forest struggle to find their rhythm early on, as Birmingham City, playing in the Trevor Francis Memorial Match, capitalized on defensive lapses to open the scoring through Jay Stansfield.
Despite the early setback, Nottingham Forest showed flashes of attacking intent. New boy Dan Ndoye, making his first appearance, came closest for the Reds in the first half, striking the bar with a powerful effort following intricate interplay, a promising sign from the debutant.
The second half saw Forest continue their search for an equalizer. Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood both tested the Birmingham City goalkeeper, Ryan Allsop, but were unable to convert their opportunities, highlighting the team’s ongoing quest for clinical finishing in pre-season football.
Sarah Clapson’s detailed player ratings shed light on individual performances. Nikola Milenkovic provided a steady presence in defense, while Ibrahim Sangare dictated play in midfield, showcasing his customary work rate and good form.
Further analysis revealed varying contributions from the attacking players. Callum Hudson-Odoi showed moments of promise, and substitutes like Taiwo Awoniyi added late impetus. However, the collective attacking output seemed to lack cohesion against Birmingham City FC.
While it was a challenging outing to fully assess Dan Ndoye’s debut, his direct involvement in Forest’s best chance offered a glimpse of his potential. The match served as another crucial stepping stone in Nottingham Forest‘s preparations, with coaching staff undoubtedly keen to refine strategies before the competitive season.
This fifth pre-season game without a win underscores the areas Nuno Espirito Santo’s side must address. Integrating new talents like Ndoye and refining team dynamics will be paramount as the Reds look to build momentum for the upcoming English Football News season.
