Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield Town. Sky Bet Championship.
The City GroundAttendance27,159.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield at the City Ground as Duane Holmes scored the only goal of the game to seal victory for the Terriers against Steve Cooper's men
Thursday 30 December 2021 23:08, UK
Huddersfield held out under a remarkable storm of pressure to claim a 1-0 win at the City Ground that left Nottingham Forest kicking themselves in frustration.
Steve Cooper's side created chance after chance, either side of Duane Holmes' 30th-minute strike for the visitors.
But goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made a string of saves and Forest spurned a host of opportunities as they somehow managed to emerge empty-handed from a game they could easily have won by a comfortable margin.
Sorba Thomas rattled the bar with a vicious, spectacular shot for Huddersfield within the first 20 seconds, having found space to let fly from 22 yards on the right side.
Forest responded with Brennan Johnson crossing for Lewis Grabban but, while the striker's first touch was good, he could not make room for a shot. It was to set the tone for what was to follow.
Xande Silva almost marked his first start for Forest with a goal, as he twice saw shots desperately charged down.
Huddersfield had to make a change in the 15th minute as Danny Ward limped off to be replaced by Jordan Rhodes.
Philip Zinckernagel forced an awkward save from Nicholls with a shot that bounced just in front of the keeper. James Garner tried to catch Nicholls out with a clever free-kick but the Huddersfield man was equal to it. Johnson flashed a header wide.
Just as Forest began to look the more likely to score, Huddersfield took the lead.
Harry Toffolo conjured up his fourth assist in as many games as he picked out Holmes, who finished sharply, beating Brice Samba at his near post. Former Derby man Holmes celebrated by cupping his hands to his ears, in front of the home fans.
Forest responded as both Garner and Joe Worrall flashed shots inches the wrong side of the post.
But Zinckernagel came even closer as he hammered a rocket against the bar, which bounced down onto the turf and away.
Nicholls had to make one more outstanding save before the interval, this time to push away an instinctive strike from Silva.
Zinckernagel was denied by Nicholls again early in the second half but Forest had a major let off as well, as Danel Sinani fired over when a mistake from Worrall gave him a clear sight of goal.
Johnson spurned a good chance for Forest, while Samba had to make a sharp save to keep out Lewis O'Brien, amid an electric encounter. Nicholls kept out a low effort from Silva and Johnson should have netted the loose ball - but fired into the side netting.
Forest continued to pressure, creating a host of chances, without managing to make the breakthrough. Spence had an effort charged down, sub Cafu flicked a header wide. Johnson drove wide from the edge of the box.
Nottingham Forest's Steve Cooper: "It is disappointing, isn't it? We have not won because we conceded the kind of goal that we talked a lot about not conceding. We talked a lot about their low crosses into the box and the danger they posed. They have scored a lot of goals in that way. So after going through that thoroughly, it is disappointing to concede in that way.
"Then, for all the chances we created we were not able to convert any. We were by far the better team, we played the better football, we dominated. In terms of the performance, it was a good one, we just couldn't score a goal. We will win most games if we are able to play like that. The idea is to play like that, create chances and score. That is the plan.
"I have just said to the boys the same things. We were disappointed with the goal and with the chances we have missed - but we were happy with the way we played overall. I want them to keep going and keep their heads up. We are not happy to have lost but nor am I too narrow minded not to see that there were good things in the game."
Huddersfield's Carlos Corberan: "We had to suffer in order to get three points. As coach, I appreciate a lot the effort the players put in, to get the three points. At the same time, I would like to see us claim three points, while suffering less during the 90 minutes. In some moments, we created very good opportunities. There was a little luck involved. We should not have conceded the chances we did during the game.
"But it is also true that, at the start of the second half, we had a good chance of our own to score a second and take control of the game. We conceded chances in situations that we can control better. It is all details. But we are in a condition to solve those issues. We adapted well to the way we played, without having too much time to work."
