As first home games in charge go, Sabri Lamouchi quite enjoyed Friday night’s City Ground debut.
Nottingham Forest are a week ahead of Crystal Palace in their pre-season preparations, and for long periods under the lights, it showed.
The Reds produced a classy, spirited display to overcome Roy Hodgson’s Premier League side by a solitary Albert Adomah goal to nil in front of almost 15,000 spectators.
Just like he did in Athens on Tuesday night, Lamouchi will have learned a great deal from his side’s display, particularly in the second half.
As poor as the Eagles were in the first, a half-time rocket from Hodgson saw them improve in the second period and put the Reds under greater pressure, and that in turn brought the best out of Aro Muric in the Reds' goal.
Forest came close to doubling their lead when new arrival Tiago Silva crashed a free-kick against the outside of Wayne Hennessey’s upright.
As it was, Lamouchi was a happy man at full-time and will now have a week to prepare for next Friday’s clash with Spanish La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.
After speaking to the Frenchman, Paul Taylor and Barry Cooper reflected on a job well done by Forest.
