City Get Lost In The Forest

Last updated : 03 September 2012 By Kev Monks

COVENTRY CITY U21'S 0-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST U21'S

City: Burge, Smith, Donald, Henderson, Malaga (Baker-Richardson 46), Cameron, Roberts, Lawton (Maund 62), Garner, Wiseman (Finch 74), Rankin. SNU Fagan, Fletcher,

Forest: Evtimov, Gregory (Gorman 88), Andrews, Morgan, Fenton, Regan, Papworth (Gnahore 83), Blake, Guedioura (Palmer-Samuels 65), Ferrier, Osborn. SNU Hollingsworth, J.Smith

HT CCFC 0-1 NFFC FT CCFC 0-2 NFFC
Goals David Morgan (30), Ben Osborn (70)
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The difference between a Championship club and a League One club told as City U21's lost their third consecutive match of the season.

Greg Rioch took the team and fielded Kevin Malaga and Nathan Cameron on a very warm lunch-time in an over-wise young City team.

Will Roberts got himself in a good position in the second minute in front of a number of scouts which included former Sky Blues Steve Staunton and Dennis Mortimer only to fire over.

Either side of Lewis Garner sending a twenty yarder wide, Forest were mountaining attacks. Nabil Guedioura fired over and in the eighth minute, the centre forward fired into the side netting from a cross from the left.

Morgan missed with a long ranger before Malaga was forced to head away a corner a yard off the goal-line.

Then in the 20th minute, the City support was treated to the sight of Nathan Cameron in full flight as he surged forward to meet a Rankin ball and get in a shot which Evtimov did well to get down to.

Unfortunately, that was to be City's last really raid on goal as Forest piled on the pressure. Alex Donald got in a header to concede a corner, Burge confortably saved a thirty yarder from Morgan but on the half hour mark, Forest were rewarded for their pressure with a goal.

David Morgan was allowed to get through and his shot beat Burge and went into the bottom corner to see City go a goal down.

Alex Donald cleared another cross out of the six yard box and Lee Burge got down to two efforts before the half ended.

Kevin Malaga was replaced at the break by forward Courtney Baker-Richardson but it was more of the same with the likes of Donald who had a fine game, Joe Henderson, Jordan Smith and Nathan Cameron under pressure.

In the 62nd minute, City switched to 4-3-3 when Ben Maund came on but it was to no avail and although Maund did volley over, Forest increased their lead in the 70th minute when Ben Osborn got into the area and thumped a powerful left footed shot into the net from five yards.

Both sides made changes using all their three substitutions and although Joe Henderson had a go with a long ranger late on, Forest, who played some good football left with the win they deserved.