Nottingham Forest ratings - two 5/10s as Reds beaten by Coventry City

Victory over Aston Villa last weekend and their first three points of the season had felt like lift-off for the Reds’ new era under Oliver Glasner. Here was an opportunity to build on that and end their home hoodoo ahead of the international break.

Prior to their clash with the Sky Blues, Forest had not registered a league win at the City Ground since April, when they battered Burnley 4-1. This term, they had not even managed a goal on the banks of the Trent in their first three outings in all competitions.

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Forest were never going to have it all their own way, though, and chances came at both ends in a relatively even first half. Indeed, it was the visitors who enjoyed the majority of the possession before the break.

For all that Coventry saw plenty of the ball, they struggled to really test Matz Sels. The Belgian comfortably got behind Brandon Thomas-Asante’s drive from range and had earlier seen Jack Rudoni blaze an effort over.

The hosts had the better of the openings but couldn’t quite find the finish. McAtee twice had a shot blocked, Dan Ndoye and Liam Delap fired off target and Neco Williams was thwarted by Rushworth.

It was turning into a frustrating afternoon for the hosts. They needed a spark from somewhere, but it was the visitors who found one with 55 minutes on the clock.

A long punt downfield from Rushworth was latched on to by Jay Dasilva, who got the better of Daniel Munoz and then did the same to Sels. It was Coventry’s first Premier League goal in 25 years.

Glasner’s men needed a response, but they were struggling to conjure one up. The Reds head coach turned to his bench by bringing on strikers Igor Jesus and then Chris Wood but the Sky Blues continued to block the route to goal and also forged a few moments of promise of their own.

Jesus was desperately close to scoring from off the bench for the second game in succession. The Brazilian clipped the ball over Rushworth but it was hooked off the line by Bobby Thomas.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

Matz Sels: Didn’t really have a great deal to do before he picked the ball out of his own net. Needed Munoz to do better in holding off Dasilva but will be frustrated with conceding like that nonetheless. Rating: 6/10

Jair Cunha: Recalled to the XI at the expense of Ola Aina after recovering from a hamstring niggle. Wasn’t quite at his best this time and was nowhere to be seen when Dasilva raced down the left for his goal. Rating: 5.5/10

Ousmane Diomande: Had plenty of positives to build on from his full debut at Villa Park but this was a completely different game. Finding his feet in the Premier League but there is still plenty to learn. Hooked when Glasner switched to four at the back in the final minutes. Rating: 6/10

Murillo: Coventry had plenty of the ball but Forest’s back line wasn’t overly stretched for much of the game. Generally dealt with the visitors’ threat but this was a frustrating evening for the Reds. Rating: 6/10

Daniel Munoz: Deserved to keep his place after starring against Villa but didn’t quite live up to Jamie Carragher’s billing as the best right wing-back in the Premier League this time. Beaten too easily by Dasilva for the goal. Rating: 5/10

Xaver Schlager: Can be pleased with how he has settled into English football after a rocky start against Leeds United. Steady enough again and kept battling away on a largely frustrating evening for the hosts. Rating: 7/10

James McAtee: No question, has been Forest’s best player in this first mini chunk of the season. Really deserved to go into the international break with a goal to his name. Tried his best but was frustrated by the visitors more than once. Rating: 7.5/10

Neco Williams: Got forward and tried his luck on a few occasions but this was mostly tough going for the home side. At least tested Rushworth with a shot in the first half but it wasn’t enough. Rating: 6/10

Morgan Gibbs-White: Will have gone into this game knowing he had a point to prove after being snubbed once again for an England call-up. Normally that would spark a masterclass from the No.10; he did his best but couldn’t influence the outcome this time. Rating: 6.5/10

Dan Ndoye: Performance was summed up by a fresh-air shot when he attempted some acrobatics in the box. That moment came with barely 15 minutes on the clock, and his evening didn’t exactly improve thereafter. Starting spot must surely be under threat. Rating: 5/10

Liam Delap: Looked sharp in the first half, teeing up Ndoye for a shot and then letting fly with one of his own which wasn’t too far away. Second half was a frustrating affair all round, though, as the Reds could not find a way through. Rating: 6/10

Chris Wood (for Diomande, 73mins): Glasner had no shortage of attacking talent on the pitch by the end but still the Reds could not find a way through. Didn’t really get a look-in. Rating: 6/10

Luca Netz (for Munoz, 83mins): Fresh legs got Forest at the right end of the field. Bright enough contribution and will hope for more minutes after the international break. Rating: 6.5/10

Ibrahim Sangare (for McAtee, 83mins): Couldn’t really do a great deal in his cameo role. Forest had work to do by the time the midfielder came on. Rating: 6/10

Subs not used: John, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Yates, Aina.

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