Nicholas Ioannou was handed his Nottingham Forest debut in a game labelled ‘must-win’ by under-pressure boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Having made the move from APOEL last week, the Cypriot took his place at left-back against Bristol City - one of three changes from the team which fell to a fourth successive defeat of the season at Huddersfield Town last Friday.
There was also a first league start for teenager Alex Mighten, while Lewis Grabban also returned to the XI after finding himself on the bench against the Terriers.
Scott McKenna missed out at the City Ground through a suspected injury, while Samba Sow and Lyle Taylor dropped to the bench.
With Ioannou in the side, Tyler Blackett moved to centre-back, having been on the left at the John Smith’s Stadium.
He partnered Loic Mbe Soh at the heart of the defence, with Cyrus Christie on the right, ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba.
It looked like a return to a 4-2-3-1 formation for the hosts, with Jack Colback and Harry Arter the men in midfield.
Mighten teamed up with Luke Freeman and Sammy Ameobi in support of lone striker Grabban.
As well as Taylor and Sow, Jordan Smith, Nuno Da Costa, Michael Dawson, Ryan Yates and Tendayi Darikwa made up the bench.
The Reds went into the clash without a point or a goal in their opening three Championship matches, having also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, leaving Lamouchi on thin ice.
Forest: Samba, Christie, Mbe Soh, Blackett, Ioannou, Colback, Arter, Mighten, Freeman, Ameobi, Grabban. Subs: Smith, Da Costa, Dawson, Sow, Yates, Darikwa, Taylor.
