Igor Tudor made three changes to the team that started the 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night - Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Kevin Danso came back in for Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani and Radu Dragusin. Forest made 10 changes from their team that beat FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday.
Danso was straight into the action with a huge defensive header away as Igor Jesus dived in for Omari Hutchinson's cross inside the six-yard box. We took control from there with our first chance to Richarlison, who climbed well to meet Mathys Tel's corner and head across Matz Sels but wide. Seconds later, Igor flicked Danso's long throw back towards his own goal and as Richarlison stretched to meet it, the ball coming back off the upright.
Forest threatened rarely in the middle period of the first half, Hutchinson's low drive comfortable for Guglielmo Vicario. However, after a couple of half-chances failed to fall our way, Forest took the lead in the last minute of the half. Initially, Vicario did well to tip over Igor's flick. However, from the corner, Neco Williams delivered to the far post where Igor powered home his header from six yards.
There was still time for another attack - and we struck the woodwork again. Tel cut in from the left and let fly with a curler that looked destined for the top corner until Sels' touch onto the crossbar. Cristian Romero and Richarlison both ended up in a heap in the ensuing melee, nothing awarded after a VAR check.
We made two changes at the break - Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie introduced for Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence. Forest were back on the front foot though and it took a reaction save from Vicario to keep out Williams' header on 50 minutes. Romero headed wide at other end and couple of scrambles didn't fall our way - then Forest struck again. Callum Hudson-Odoi got to the left byline and his cut-back found Gibbs-White in space 12 yards out, his side-foot finish enough to beat Vicario.
Bergvall was inches away from a response on 76 minutes, sliding in to meet Udogie's teasing cross and Sarr's volley looked goalbound until hitting Sangare and squirming just wide. Forest sealed the points via substitute Awoniyi in the 88th minute and a late burst still wasn't enough as Sels tipped away Solanke's drive and then saved his header from the resulting corner, Kolo Muani heading the rebound over.