Forest survive scare to reach last 16

NOTTINGHAM

- By SARAH CLAPSON

Forest fans had to endure a nervous night at the City Ground before seeing the Reds clinch their place in the Europa League last 16.Vitor Pereira’s side went into the second leg of their playoff with a healthy 3-0 lead courtesy of last week’s superb showing in Istanbul.

The Forest head coach had cautioned against complacency creeping in on the banks of the Trent, though, and had warned his players the job was not done.

Fenerbahce clearly believed they were still in with a chance. Their supporters had travelled in their numbers and caused a very brief delay soon after kickoff by throwing flares on the pitch.

The Reds simply shrugged it off and started with intent, as they had done in Pereira’s first two matches in charge.

Even a horribly dislocated finger for Ryan Yates couldn’t hold Forest back as the midfielder simply got it strapped up and carried on as if nothing had happened.

But despite putting some tasty balls into the box, for all their positive play Forest failed to really work Fenerbahce. And they were dealt a cold, hard shock when the visitors took the lead with 22 minutes on the clock.

Pushing high up the pitch as they tried to apply some pressure, the Reds were undone by a quick break. Kerem Akturkoglu connected with Sidiki Cherif’s ball and coolly slotted past Stefan Ortega to prompt a few fingernails being beaten inside the City Ground.

Had Fenerbahce brought their shooting boots, the evening could have gone even further downhill for the hosts before the break.

Akturkoglu spurned a golden chance to double his team’s lead when he sent a shot wide from inside the box in the 40th minute, then Ortega denied Cherif in added time.