Nottingham Forest 4-2 Ipswich Town - Match Recap

Forest get the job done, outclassing a struggling Ipswich side after a slow first half hour.

Forest lined up as expected with no changes from the starters that began the win over Manchester City a week ago.

Despite a slow start for both sides, Forest it was mission accomplished for Forest as their quality finally overcame a poor Ipswich side. Nuno won't be happy at conceding two goals after switching to a back 5, but ultimately the Reds consolidate their hold on third place with a deserved win.

Read on for a recap and stay tuned for more match reaction and analysis!

First half

• As he did against Man City, Elanga starts out the game playing much more centrally, with Gibbs-White dropping centrally alongside Anderson and Dominguez manning the right flank in front of Aina. More of a 4-4-2 shape.
• Ipswich pick up a dangerous free kick as Hutchison, driving forward, was taken down by Neco Williams. Hutchison dragged the free kick straight into the wall, though.
• Elanga and Hudson-Odoi combine well down the left which resulted in a mishit shot from outside the box from Aina, which goes well wide/over. Didn't get great contact on that but we know he can hit them!
• A careless give away from Anderson forces Aina into a good challenge to deflect an Ipswich shot away for a corner. The resulting corner leads to a good chance for Hutchinson but he spears it a couple of feet over the bar. Should have done better with that. Forest aren't very convincing in these opening stages.
• After 15 minutes or so, Elanga shifts back over to the right flank as Forest went back to more of a 4-2-3-1. Elanga immediately combines well with Gibbs-White down the right to force a Forest's first corner.
• The ball suddenly breaks to Anderson on the edge of the area. His shot was poor, though, going wide and hitting Chris Wood on the back anyway.
• Hudson-Odoi gets to the byline down the left and flashes the ball across goal but no one is there to turn it home. Better from Forest!
• Forest lose the ball yet again in the middle third but Ipswich are unable to capitalize as Anderson ultimately wins a goal kick.
• A decent cross from Gibbs-White on the right finds Chris Wood on the edge of the box but he can only head straight at Palmer in the Ipswich goal.
• GOAL! Forest get a cheap corner as Palmer clears the ball against his own defender. From the resulting set pieces, the ball gets recycled and pings around a bit before falling to Milekonivc who cushions the ball on his thigh and DRILLS a half-volley into the roof of the net. FOREST 1-0 Ipswich.
• GOAL! Almost immediately, Forest break at speed as Anderson plays in Elanga down the right. He isolates his defender before curving a left-footed shot into the far corner. Great finish! FOREST 2-0 Ipswich.
• GOAL! A mix-up in the Ipswich backline dealing with a long ball from Sels leaves Elanga clean through on goal. He makes no mistake and slots the ball under an advancing Palmer. FOREST 3-0 Ipswich.
• A decent change for Ipswich as the ball falls to Phillips at the edge of Forest's area. His half-volley is well struck but sails comfotably over Sels's bar.
• That proves to be the last decent action before the half time whistle. A weird half that was a bit rubbish for the first 30 minutes before Forest sprang into action with a 7 minute, 3 goal blitz that should put the game beyond reach. Ipswich played some decent stuff but don't really have the quality at either end of the pitch to threaten Forest too much. They'll have to push on in the second half which will leave Forest plenty of opportunities to hit them on the break and make the most of an error-prone backline.

Second half

• One change for Ipswich at half-time as Burgess replaces Greaves in the backline.
• A silly push from Dominguez gives Ipswich a cheap free kick over on the left touchline. From an ensuing corner, Delap has a great chance with a free header but gets it all wrong as it goes harmlessly wide. Ipswich have certainly started on the front foot here. Forest will want to ride this out.
• Kalvin Phillips goes into the book after a bit of a lunge as Elanga was looking to break into the Ipswich half.
• Forest open up Ipswich easily and the ball comes to Wood around the penalty spot. His left-footed shot is weak, though, and doesn't trouble the goalkeeper too much.
• A clever ball from Gibbs-White almost finds Elanga in the area, but it's slightly too strong and Palmer comes out to claim it. Great idea.
• Dominguez gets booked for a challenge very similar to the one Phillips was carded for earlier. He tries to claim he was fouled with a decent bit of acting. The referee is unconvinced though. He soon gets subbed off for Ryan Yates. Morata comes on for Elanga and Forest switch to a back 5.
• Sels comes way out of his goal to meet a long ball but Delap beats him to it. His attempt at a lob is easily dealt with by Milenkovic.
• Some silky footwork by Yates (!!) leads to Williams getting free on the left. He flashes a good ball across the face of goal but out of the reach of any Forest attacker.
• Concern for Milenkovic as he gets his foot trodden on. A painful one but it looks like he'll be OK. Because he's tough.
• Good anticipation from Yates leads to a break for Forest. Gibbs-White breaks into the area and flashes a good ball across the 6 yard box. Wood had stopped his run, however, and the ball rolls harmlessly away.
• Taiwo Awonyi, still wearing a mask, replaces Wood. Jota Silva comes on for Hudson-Odoi.
• GOAL!! A well taken goal from Cajuste. He spins nicely on the edge of the area and lofts a shot into the top corner. Will Forest be able to shut things down for the remaining 8 minutes plus stoppage time? Forest 3-1 IPSWICH.
• GOAL!! Another break by Forest as Yates releasing Gibbs-White. It's two-on-one and Gibbs-White draws the last remaining defender before slipping a pass to Jota Silva who slots it past the Ipswich keeper with ease. FOREST 4-1 Ipswich.
• GOAL!! Ipswich get numbers into the box and a decent cross in from the right is met well by Hirst who guides a header past Sels to pull another one back. But it's all too little, too late. Forest 4-2 IPSWICH.