Nottingham Forest fell to an opening day defeat at the City Ground as West Bromwich Albion came from behind to win 2-1.
It was not the way the hosts would have wanted to kick off a new era under Sabri Lamouchi, particularly having got off to a flying start with a Matty Cash goal.
Reds reporter Paul Taylor gives his verdict on the Championship clash in our latest Forest video.
Head coach Lamouchi had fielded four of his eight summer signings in his line-up against the Baggies, with Arijanet Muric, Alfa Semedo, Tiago Silva and Albert Adomah all in the team.
But it was one of the club’s academy graduates who made the breakthrough early on, with Cash finding the back of the net.
Playing at right-back, the 21-year-old combined brilliantly with Albert Adomah down the right-hand side, before unleashing a fierce shot into the bottom corner with eight minutes gone.
It was a fully justified lead, too, with the home side having put their opponents under pressure in the opening minutes.
But the Baggies hit back and drew level with quarter of an hour gone as Muric failed to deal with a Kyle Edwards shot.
That goal took the wind out of Forest’s sails and, with their early momentum lost, they were dealt a suckerpunch when a fluke strike from Matt Phillips saw Muric beaten again, in the 26th minute.
Lamouchi brought on new arrivals Rafa Mir and Sammy Ameobi during the second half, as well as youngster Brennan Johnson, as the Reds tried to find a way back into the game.
But they could not break down a well-organised West Brom side who held out for the win.
Next up for Forest is a trip to face Leeds United next weekend, as they try to bounce back from losing an opening day league match at the City Ground for the first time since 1983.
