So sad;Nottingham Forest 0 Elche 1 – report and ratings as Reds beaten in pre-season friendly

Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds beaten by Spanish side in pre-season friendly

Nottingham Forest suffered their first defeat of pre-season as they lost 1-0 to Elche at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.

The Reds went into the game looking to continue the momentum they had built up from their first three friendlies. But they found themselves facing a different kind of test after going behind with five minutes on the clock courtesy of Nicolas Castro’s emphatic strike from a corner.

The goal seemed to serve as a wake-up call and Forest started to find some rhythm in the game. They produced a strong response and only a string of saves from Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia kept them at bay, with ones to deny Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White particularly catching the eye.

Murillo tried to force an opening just past the half-hour mark by going on one of his trademark runs but he could not beat Badia. Callum Hudson-Odoi then had an effort blocked just before the break.

Nuno Espirito Santo made 11 changes at the interval as he continued to share around the minutes. Hwang Ui-jo almost got the Reds back on level terms but hit the post with 65 minutes gone.

Josh Bowler argued he should have had a penalty for a handball in the closing minutes but Forest could not find an equaliser as they signed off their training camp in Spain with a loss.

Full-time

Nottingham Forest suffered their first defeat of pre-season as they lost 1-0 to Elche at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.

The Reds went into the game looking to continue the momentum they had built up from their first three friendlies. But they found themselves facing a different kind of test after going behind with five minutes on the clock courtesy of Nicolas Castro’s emphatic strike from a corner.