U21 Report: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Saints

Saints controlled much of the play and were ahead at half-time thanks to Nick Oyekunle’s goal.

The lively Sufianu Sillah Dibaga made it 2-0 midway through the second half, meaning that Saints took home the three points on offer despite David Modupe’s late response for Forest.

The first shot of the game came in the 10th minute when Forest’s Kalum Thompson took aim from the edge of the area and forced Saints goalkeeper Hugo Fisher to beat away.

Saints were playing the best football in the early stages and had their first effort on goal when Tommy Dobson-Ventura rose highest to meet a corner but saw his header saved.

Another corner did bring a first goal of the contest for Saints on 24 minutes though when Thierry Rohart-Brown’s delivery into the box was knocked down to Nick Oyekunle, and the striker did enough to poke the ball home from close range.

The rest of the first period went by without much goalmouth action, but it had been Saints on top and deservedly ahead at the break – Sufianu Sillah Dibaga in particular causing issues for Forest at the back.

Sufianu Sillah Dibaga scored Saints' second of the evening (Photo: Craig Hobbs).

Early in the second half, Forest looked for an early equaliser and both Kalum Thompson and Lamin Sillah forced Hugo Fisher into saves in quick succession as they stepped things up.

An opportunity for Saints to double their lead came in the 63rd minute as Moses Sesay’s excellent ball into the area found Joachim Kayi-Sanda free to volley first time, but the defender’s effort went wide.

Soon it was 2-0 though as Saints cut right through the middle of Forest’s defence to score.

Moses Sesay played the ball through to Sufianu Sillah Dibaga and the winger showed pace and composure to reach a shooting position and find the corner of the net with real precision, giving his side a comfortable cushion in the game.

As in the first half, Saints then controlled the final stages of the game and only saw their goal threatened late in stoppage-time when David Modupe halved Forest’s deficit.

Saints are next in action on Friday 13th March when they travel away to face Manchester United in Premier League 2, with kick off at Carrington set for 1pm.

Nottingham Forest: Murray-Jones (GK), Moreira (McClure 56'), Sanneh, Abbott, Hanks, Orr, Sinclair (Modupe 70'), Nwosu, Sillah, Whitehall (Smith 56'), Thompson.

Subs not used: Grainger, Broomes.

Goals: Modupe (90+5').

Yellow cards: McClure, Abbott, Orr.

Saints: Fisher (GK), Adjei-Afriyie (Tabares 61'), Dobson-Ventura, Sesay, Oyekunle, Sillah Dibaga (McMullan 70'), Rohart-Brown, Daley (Okunola 61'), Williams, Gathercole (Moore 82'), Kayi-Sanda.

Subs not used: Whittaker.

Goals: Oyekunle (24'), Sillah Dibaga (65').

Yellow cards: Tabares, Oyekunle, Sesay.

Referee: Stuart Morland