Paul Taylor

Nottingham Forest writer at The Athletic. The Premier League adventure is underway... I'll meet you by the left lion.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

⚡️Believes a wonder goal is coming
❤️ Following his father's dreams
💕🐣 Why he fell in love with Nottingham
⚽️ How futsal gave him quick feet
🏆 European dreams

An exclusive interview with Nottingham Forest's Brazilian defender, Murillo #NFFC

https://t.co/0eke821UDX

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

This was not the night when Glasner-ball was born at the CG, but #NFFC did take their first significant steps in a huge win.

🫡 leader Yates inspires
💥 explosive Delap divides City
👌classy Cunha conquers at both ends
💨 Glasner is the running man…

https://t.co/OF2jJIzcqa

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

This was not the night when Glasner-ball was born at the CG, but #NFFC did take their first significant steps in a huge win.

🫡 leader Yates inspires
💥 explosive Delap divides City
👌classy Cunha conquers at both ends
💨 Glasner is the running man…

https://t.co/OF2jJIzcqa

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Depeche Mode echoes around the CG as Nottingham Forest celebrate a first home win under Oliver Glasner - as well as their first three home goals.
What a night on the banks of the Trent. Liam Delap with two superb goals. Jair Cunha symbolising the #NFFC defensive resolve. Lovely.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL... even Oliver Glasner ran half the length of the pitch to celebrate that one...
Delap with his second of the game - and it might have been even better than his first.
He finds the net off the angle of post and bar #NFFC

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Ndoye and Netz are introduced by #NFFC, with McAtee and Munoz the players going off...
McAtee had put a proper shift in... and had just got a yellow card, in curious circumstances, following a clear foul on Delap, which was not given.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Cherki with a spectacular hit from just inside the box to pull one back for City.
#NFFC now lead 2-1 at the CG.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Cunha with a huge clearance off the line to deny Haaland a goal for the visitors.
He had carried the ball beyond Matz Sels and angled in a shot, but the Brazilian was well placed to make a vital intervention #NFFC

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Schlager wins the ball in midfield and sparks a swift counter attack.
Again the City defence backs off and again they are punished in ruthless fashion by Forest.
Delap absolutely drives home a shot from the periphery of the penalty area, to lift the roof off the CG again.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Delap makes it 2-0 #NFFC

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Not the man you would have bet on to score Forest's first goal of the season at the CG...
But what a way for Forest to get themselves in front.
The atmosphere was already buzzing here. That lifted the roof off.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL Jair Cunha puts #NFFC in front.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

He wins possession himself off Gvardiol and simply drives down the middle of the pitch.
The City defence backs off and backs off... and, after a brief stumble, he rolls a simple finish into the corner of the net.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

It could be a different approach, with an extra man in midfield, but seems more likely that the former Manchester City player will play in a more attacking role against his old club.

Yates has the kind of character you need in challenging moments.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Ryan Yates will start his first Premier League game of the season for #NFFC...
Oliver Glasner brings the captain into the team... it looks as though that might mean a more advanced role for James McAtee, as the 2nd No10 alongside MGW.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Elliot Anderson is currently wandering around the City Ground pitch getting a friendly greeting from the #NFFC players who are out there having a chat before kick-off.

Looking increasingly grey on the banks of the Trent. Might even be a night when some mist rolls in...

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Oliver Glasner says there will be “no more hugs” for his Nottingham Forest players as he warned that he is prepared to make big changes at the club to ensure there is not another managerial change.

More from @nottmtails

🔗 https://t.co/l4u0dquOeL

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Forest had more good moments in the first half, when they probably edged it.
But Brentford's hold on the game only increased as time ticked by.
The away fans were clearly frustrated with what they had seen, at the end.
Understandably so. Another tough day.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Unlike previous games, today was not a day when you felt #NFFC were unlucky not to get something.
The goals involved a degree of misfortune... but it is not as if they frequently came really close to scoring.
A few decent half-chances, but they got flatter as the game went on.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

GOAL... Brentford make it 2-0.
Thiago's shot finds the back of the net, again with a huge deflection of Milenkovic. That one wasn't an own goal, but the #NFFC man is unlucky to see his attempt to block see him help guide the ball beyond Sels.

[Paul Taylor @nottmtails]

Wood and Kalimuendo come on for Delap and Ndoye, as Glasner makes more changes here #NFFC