Roy Keane was forced to endure another disappointing return to the City Ground as the Blues were beaten 2-0 by his old side Nottingham Forest. David McGoldrick put the home team in front and Lewis McGugan’s thunderbolt freekick increased their lead before the break with Jack Colback’s shot against the bar the closest Town would come to a goal.

Town boss Roy Keane made four changes from the team which lost 2-1 at Watford in midweek. Márton Fülöp returned in goal in place of Brian Murphy having recovered from his back injury, while Jaime Peters came in for Troy Brown at right-back.

Keane reverted to the three-man central midfield with Grant Leadbitter behind David Norris and Jack Colback with Tamás Priskin and Jake Livermore dropping to the bench. Andros Townsend and Carlos Edwards occupied the left and right wide roles respectively with Jason Scotland the lone striker.

David Norris sent in early ball from the right for the Blues but it was at the other end where there was the first real danger. Luke Chambers headed back a cross from the left at the far post and Márton Fülöp grabbed the ball ahead of Chris Cohen on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Blues were gifted a more than decent chance in the eighth minute when Lewis McGugan played the ball to Carlos Edwards midway inside the Forest half. The midfielder took too long before releasing a pass to fellow Trinidadian Jason Scotland, who had strayed offside by the time the ball arrived.

Forest went in front in the 13th minute when Chris Cohen was played in on the left by Radeslaw Majewski, took the ball round the outside of Jaime Peters before sending in a low ball, which David McGoldrick slammed home from close range.

The Blues won a couple of quick corners soon after going behind, Gareth McAuley heading the second behind but having fouled his defender, according to referee Andy Woolmer.

Town were opened up again in the 17th minute when Majewski broke into the area and hit a shot across the face of Márton Fülöp’s goal.

The Blues weren’t far from getting back on terms in the 20th minute when Scotland found the on-rushing Colback on the left of the area. The on-loan Sunderland man cut in and hit a shot which struck the bar, the ball falling to David Norris, whose strike was blocked with a number of Town players appealing for handball.

Edwards and Townsend had by now swapped flanks and were having more luck, the former Sunderland man almost finding the Spurs loanee with a 20th minute ball in from the left.

The Blues were starting to have the better of the game as it progressed beyond the half hour but without testing Forest keeper Lee Camp too much further. At the other end Lewis McGugan shot wide from 25 yards.

Town continued to have the better of it as the match moved towards half-time but without creating any chances of note. The most threatening moment came in the 42nd minute when Leadbitter curled a shot wide after a Townsend cross had been cleared to him on the edge of the box.

On 43 Leadbitter was booked for a foul 35 yards from goal and from the freekick the home side increased their lead in spectacular style. Midfielder Lewis McGugan struck a superb shot into the top corner of Márton Fülöp’s net, giving the Hungarian no chance. Soon after referee Woolmer’s whistle went for half-time.

As at Watford on Tuesday, the half-time scoreline was harsh on the Blues, who had again started slowly but having conceded Forest’s well-worked first goal had come more into the game and might have got back on terms had Colback had taken his chance.

The home side’s second came against the run of play but was a freekick of rare quality. Town had once again made little of their own set pieces, both Jack Colback and Grant Leadbitter failing to make the most of the Blues’ dead ball opportunities, and as so often had created too few chances in open play.

Connor Wickham was introduced at the break in place of Jason Scotland, who had taken a knock midway through the half.

Andros Townsend struck the second period’s first significant shot, the midfielder eventually managing to get in an effort after the referee had got in his way on the edge of the box, the ball deflecting wide off a defender.

The resultant corner reached Tommy Smith just outside the area and his shot deflected through to Camp. Moments later the Forest keeper required treatment after being clattered late by Norris. On 56 Jake Livermore replaced Jaime Peters, Carlos Edwards moving to right-back.

Town’s performance had drifted after the bright start to the half, the break for Camp’s injury had led to a loss of impetus, and the frustrated travelling support called on manager Roy Keane to “sort it out”, as they had with the game in a similar position in the first half at Watford on Tuesday.

Republic of Ireland U19 international striker Ronan Murray replaced Townsend after what had been a sporadic performance with the Blues not looking likely to get the goal which would get them back into the game.

A moment of Wickham magic conjured a chance for the Blues in the 64th minute, his flick sending Murray away on the left of the area. The 19-year-old put in a low ball, which was bundled behind for a corner ahead of Norris. From the corner, Tommy Smith mistimed his jump with the ball having been sent into a dangerous area.

Forest felt they had a strong claim for a penalty when McAuley clashed with sub Tyson with the striker going to ground. Referee Woolmer may have felt that it was six of one and half a dozen of the other with both players having pulled one another’s shirt.

Grant Leadbitter forced Camp into a save with a shot from a freekick on the edge in the 78th minute, then a minute later Colback played in Wickham on the right of the area but the England U19 international’s shot from a tight angle was blocked by the Forest keeper.

Colback almost played Wickham in on 80 but a poor first touch allowed Kelvin Wilson to get back, then the Town striker did find himself one-on-one with Camp from a Leadbitter pass, his shot scraping under the keeper, but the Camp got back to claim.

The Blues were now well on top and looking more threatening than at any stage, although either the final pass or shot were usually wayward. Such was the case in the 84th minute when Colback scuffed wide from the edge when in space.

But Town were increasingly leaving gaps at the back as they pushed forward and as the game moved into its final minutes Fülöp was forced to come off his line to block from Tyson, then Cohen hit a low shot through to the Blues keeper with Town outnumbered.

It was the home side who looked the most dangerous in injury time, Moussi hitting a low shot which Fülöp saved to his right. Moments before the final whistle, Paul Anderson curled a shot wide.

In many ways it was much the same story as at Watford in midweek. Town didn’t play particularly badly and had significant spells where they were on top, but too few chances were created either from open play or from the numerous set pieces.

Forest’s first goal was well worked, the type of opportunity the Blues appear unable to carve out at present, while few keepers would have stopped McGugan’s Rivelino-style freekick.

Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie at home to Northampton on Tuesday provides a welcome break from the Championship after three successive defeats and a rare chance for Town to reach the quarter-finals of a cup competition.

Town: Fülöp, Peters (Livermore 56), Smith, McAuley, Delaney , Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Edwards, Townsend (Murray 61), Scotland (Wickham 46). Unused: Murphy, Priskin, Brown, Eastman, Murray.

Forest: Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Chambers, Cohen, McKenna, Majewski (Tyson 66), Anderson, McGugan (Adebola 83), McGoldrick (Moussi 73). Unused: Darlow, McCleary, Blackstock, Earnshaw. Att: 22,935 (Town: 1,910).

Photo: Action Images

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