Nottingham Forest recorded their three points in the English Premier League new season on Friday night as Chris Wood came off the bench to win their match day two against Sheffield United 2-1 at the City Ground.
Taiwo Awoniyi had headed Forest in front inside three minutes as the hosts started brightly but the Blades equalised early in the second half thanks to Hamer’s brilliantly curled effort into the top corner of Matt Turner’s net.
With the game in the balance, Steve Cooper sent for Wood, and his superb header from another Serge Aurier cross restored the home side’s advantage late in the game. There was to be no comeback this time, Paul Heckingbottom’s team beaten again.
Sheffield United’s first two fixtures looked a little inviting relative to what lies ahead, but they have failed to claim a point from games against Crystal Palace and Forest. The next two matches before the international break are against Manchester City and Everton.
They will surely view this as a chance missed given that Turner had to pull off a fine save to stop Benie Traore putting them in front when confusion between Scott McKenna and Joe Worrall allowed him through. Instead, it’s Forest who are off the mark for the campaign.
Awoniyi’s header from Aurier’s inviting cross was made to look routine – and that is how scoring goals have become for the Nigerian striker after adjusting to the Premier League late last season.
The match was the sixth consecutive appearance in which Awoniyi has found the net for his team, scoring eight goals in that sequence of games straddling this season and last. In doing so, he has equalled Stan Collymore’s record for the club in the competition.
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