Former Town loanee Chris Wood’s penalty four minutes after half-time was enough to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory at the City Ground, where the Blues remain without a win in 25 years. After a first half in which both sides had efforts cleared off the line and the Blues had the other outstanding opportunity, Sammie Szmodics was controversially adjudged to have fouled Jota Silva by referee Tony Harrington, a decision VAR upheld, and Wood netted confidently from the spot.

Town made one change from the team which drew 1-1 at home to Manchester United last Sunday with Conor Chaplin coming into the XI for Wes Burns, who dropped to the bench.

Chaplin returned to his familiar number 10 role with Omari Hutchinson moving to right wing.

Kalvin Phillips, Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves, who have all had knocks recently, were once again absent from the 20-man squad, while Nathan Broadhead was back on the bench after his groin issue.

Forest made five changes from the team which lost 3-0 at Arsenal last week with eight-goal top scorer Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, Neco Williams and Jota Silva, making his first Premier League start, coming in for Taiwo Awoniyi, Alex Moreno, James Ward-Prowse, Nicolas Dominguez and Anthony Elanga, who were all among the subs.

The home side won a corner within the opening minute from which some of their fans on the far side thought they had gone in front. Gibbs-White rose high at the near post but sent the ball powerfully wide.

Town threatened for the first time on four when Liam Delap brought the ball through players to the edge of the box before hitting a shot which deflected off Murillo and looped wide for a corner.

From the flag-kick, Dara O’Shea seemed to get away with his man just beyond the near post but was unable to make contact. Forest broke quickly and Axel Tuanzebe was booked for bringing down Jota.

Following the free-kick, Forest went very close to going in front. The ball was lofted to Callum Hudson-Odoi in space on the left of the area. One-time Tricky Trees loanee Aro Muric did well to close down the England international, who was forced to bring the ball across inside and his shot ricocheted out to skipper Ryan Yates on the edge of the box, from where his low strike was destined to find the corner of the net until Szmodics turned it behind from just in front of the line.

On 14, Cameron Burgess lost possession midway inside the Town half and Forest broke towards goal. However, captain Sam Morsy was able to stick in a vital toe to avert what could have been a very dangerous situation.

Town, who had looked a threat from all their previous four corners, almost went in front from their fifth in the 24th minute. O’Shea and Burgess both rose higher than their Forest markers and the Australian international guided a header to towards the corner but Ola Aina was able to clear off the line at the post.

The game was usually open for the Premier League and on 26 Jota flicked a header across the face of goal from a Williams cross.

Two minutes later, Gibbs-White struck a low effort from distance which Muric saved with comfort down to his right.

Just before the half hour mark, O’Shea was booked for a foul on Anderson to the left of the penalty box. Muric confidently caught the whipped in cross from the set piece.

Moments later, there was a break in play when Chaplin went to ground to require treatment, almost certainly for tactical reasons with the entire Town team going to the touchline for instruction.

On 33, the Blues should have gone in front. Delap did well to work space in the middle just outside the box and then feed Hutchinson on the right of the area. The former Chelsea man’s right-footed low shot was palmed out by Matz Sels and Chaplin looked set to slam the rebound home until Delap took it away from him as he sought to turn and shoot but failed to get it under control.

The frustation was written clear on Chaplin’s face with the former Portsmouth and Barnsley forward still to score a Premier League goal.

Two minutes later, with play continuing to fluctuate from one end to the other, Williams hit a free-kick from the right past the post.

As half-time approached, with the Blues getting stronger, Gibbs-White was booked for having a kick at Morsy having fouled the Egyptian international, who made his displeasure known to the ex-Wolves midfielder.

Moments before the fourth official’s board indicated two additional minutes, Anderson and Morsy collided as the Forest man looked to get onto a return pass with Forest claiming a deliberate bodycheck from the Town skipper, while the Blues’ players saw Anderson as having run straight into Morsy. The truth was probably somewhere between the two.

It was Town attacking as the whistle went with Kieran McKenna’s side once again having grown into a first half after the opposition had taken the earlier initiative.

Forest’s best chance was Yates’s early effort, which was cleared off the line by Szmodics, while Burgess similarly had a goal-bound header knocked away from goal by Aina with Town having looked dangerous from set pieces throughout.

Going off, Town will feel they should have been in front with Chaplin having looked odds-on to score had Delap not taken the rebound from Hutchinson’s shot away from him.

It had been an open half with chances and plenty of set pieces at both ends and either side could make an argument that they would have deserved to have been ahead at the break.

Two minutes after the restart, Forest were awarded a penalty. After Chaplin had misplaced a pass on the right as the Blues sought to play out from the back, Jota bundled his way into the box and threw himself to the ground as he went past Szmodics. Referee Harrington pointed straight to the spot.

Szmodics indicated that Jota had dived - and clearly the Portuguese had made a lot of the challenge - but VAR decided there had been sufficient contact and the decision stood.

Wood took the kick and slammed it down the middle and into the roof of the net to give his side the lead and take his Premier League tally for the season to nine, six in his last six top flight starts.

Soon after the game got back under way, Jota was on the floor again, this time as he went past Cajuste, who was booked despite appearing to have made no contact with the winger.

Forest almost made it 2-0 in the 54th minute from a right-sided corner. Jota sent it back into the danger zone from the left and Murillo powered a header which Muric superbly tipped onto the bar. The keeper was then able to palm it away from his line and O’Shea looked to clear, Wood fouling him as he did so, although the New Zealand international claimed he was the one who had been fouled.

Town were living dangerously and in the 59th minute the home side went close from another set piece. A corner from the left was nodded across goal by Yates and Burgess did well to nod it out of play.

Within a minute, Gibbs-White scuffed an effort through to Muric from the edge of the area.

On 64, the Blues made their first change of the afternoon, Jack Clarke replacing Szmodics out on the left.

The winger’s first involvement was to lose the ball in the promising area from which Forest broke. Eventually the ball was played across the box but too far in front of Wood, Cajuste stabbing it away from the New Zealander, who went to ground claiming a penalty. Referee Harrington gave a goal-kick, while VAR decided there was no penalty.

In the 69th minute, Davis played a ball in from the left to Clarke in space not too far outside the area but the wideman, who played for Forest boss Nuno at Tottenham, shot too close to Sels. Three minutes later, the home team swapped Anderson for Dominguez.

And on 74, the Blues made a double change, the tiring Cajuste and Chaplin making way for Jack Taylor and Burns.

Four minutes later Forest made a triple change, Williams, Gibbs-White and Jota going off for Morato, Moreno and Elanga, then on 79 Town swapped Tuanzebe, who had picked up a knock, and Hutchinson for Harry Clarke and Nathan Broadhead, making his first appearance of the season and first for the club in the Premier League following one game in the top flight for Everton.

The game lost its impetus somewhat with all the substitutions but once it got back up and running it was Town who dominated for a spell and camped around the Forest area with Burgess moving up front to join the attack. However, the Blues were unable to create a serious effort, the Australian international heading a cross from the left tamely to Sels. On 88 Forest switched Hudson-Odoi for Ramon Sosa.

The home fans raised the volume briefly after an additional seven minutes was announced.

Forest looked more likely to score their second than Town an equaliser in injury time with Yates seeing an effort deflected wide with a minute left on the clock.

Keeper Muric went up for a late Blues corner but Sels was able to claim the final ball into the box and Town’s long wait for a win at the City Ground continues, George Burley’s team having recorded the last win here in December 1999 when Matt Holland’s goal saw them to a 1-0 victory, 15 visits ago.

At half-time, the Blues were well-placed in the game having grown into the first half but the early second-half penalty - which was very debatable - changed the momentum of the match and the mood around the stadium.

Aside from a late spell following the substitutions, Town never really got back on top and rarely threatened to get back on terms.

The loss ends a three-game run without a defeat with the Blues down a place to 19th following Crystal Palace’s 1-1 home draw with Newcastle, Daniel Muñoz levelling four minutes into injury time. The Eagles are at Portman Road on Tuesday ahead of another game at Portman Road next Sunday, against AFC Bournemouth.

Forest: Sels, Murillo, Williams (Morato 78), Anderson (Dominguez 72), Gibbs-White (Moreno 78), Wood, Hudson-Odoi (Sosa 88), Jota (Elanga 78), Yates (c), Milenkovic, Aina. Unused: Miguel, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Ward-Prowse.

Town: Muric, Tuanzebe (H Clarke 79), O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy (c), Cajuste (Taylor 74), Hutchinson (Broadhead 79), Chaplin (Burns 74), Szmodics (J Clarke 64), Delap. Unused: Walton, Townsend, Luongo, Al-Hamadi. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). VAR: Matt Donohue. Att: 30,237.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

blueboy1981 added 20:06 - Nov 30 It’s all very well to talk about ‘strengthening up’ in January - but as we’ve seen, and said, when convenient - it’s take time for newly recruited players to gel, settle, whatever !! - by January the season is getting, or has even got away from us - along with potentially Prem’ tenureship with it. Just cast your eye to Luton - for proof of how important IT IS for us to stay in the Prem’ and NOT be Relegated in May. Our Owners will have noted - even if some of YOU deluded souls haven’t !! We need Points on the Board - from NOW ON !!

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bluesince76 added 20:09 - Nov 30 Chaplin not of prem quality gets bundled over far to easily hope we can stay in touch until January then we can replace Chaplin and burns.
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Carberry added 20:29 - Nov 30 Tough one this one, they are a decent side and we more than matched them in the 1st half and looked dangerous, however the 2nd was another story. Thought Delap looked a little raw and inexperienced today, but didn't get a great deal of service. What is very clear, is that unlike last season, substitutions don't make the impact necessary at this level. McKenna will have to shuffle the pack next week because Harry Clarke is a weakness and can't be a starter. Players who made such an impact in the Championship, like Burns and Chaplin are swimming out of their depth now.

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atty added 22:24 - Nov 30 Lots of comments/hopes about the Jan window. Not sure how much we have to spend, and where do we spend it? Left wing, centre mid, up top,right wing? Loan out Al Amadi, Taylor, Clarke(H) ? Is our best eleven good enough? Muric, Davis, Greaves, O’Shea, Tuanzebe, Johnson, Morley, Caujuste,Szmodics, Hutchinson, Burns, Delap? Are Burns, Chaplin, Clarke(H), Taylor, Al Amadi, Broadhead and sadly Clarke(J), no longer or not the quality required? All of the above “just” reflect, l think, the questions that must be dealt with now given our experience of the PL thus far. Seems clear we must get it absolutely right in January, at the very least.

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Bert added 22:43 - Nov 30 Thank goodness we have owners that understand the reality of where the club is at and where it wants to be. They know our journey into the PL was earlier than expected but their plans for the club are sustainable hence their long term vision for the club. We all know it’s tough and so do our owners but they would never insult any of our fans as delusional. Respect is what our owners have for what Ashton and KMcK have achieved and I would suggest that Blueboy respects that and the journey by posting with maturity, balance and respect for the opinions of others.

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budgieplucker added 23:28 - Nov 30 The next 3 matches will define our season. We can’t really afford to spend in January especially if the odds on survival are poor if we have a barren December. Plus few players would want to come to a team if we look odds on going down. The most likely chance is for a loan signing (we have one, Phillips already and we would only be allowed one other domestic loan so we would have to try and take a loan player from another league). The lads effort so far has been fantastic, yes we haven’t had the rub of the green and hopefully that will change in the second half if the season, however, unless we get better in our execution of chances and set pieces we will struggle. With our best players we have proven that we can give most teams in this league a very good game, but as mentioned by others some of our squad who have excelled in the last two seasons are very much showing their limitations. Whatever the final outcomes, the season will prove to be a very instrumental and valuable one for the club.

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Leejames99 added 00:47 - Dec 1 Oh here we go again with the usual rubbish of MUST WIN next game and doom and gloom. We got beat by a poor penalty, next! We got 4 points from Man U and Spurs. Those who claim they know and played football should know that some games you, some games you draw and some you lose! That's football! I have said on here so many times, the players we have signed were definately with the possibility of relegation in mind, and unlike Luton we bought the majority of best players from the championship and exciting new young players who can grow with the club, its brilliant business. 3 teams have to go down and loads have and bounced straight back, Leicester won the league but got relegated, West Ham near bottom but won a cup, its football. All our players will benefit from this season regardless of outcome and should the worst happen and we go down we will have parachute payments can strengthen further and go again. Only 13 games gone with 25 games to go so no games are must wins but in an ideal world we can get points from teams around us, Forest are top half! Nobody expected a win v Spurs or a draw VS Man Utd but we did! We have some of the best young talent in country and have held our own, it took a journeyman to score today, I can only imagine the moans if we signed a journeyman striker but don't be surprised if we do get Danny Ings or similar on loan, or an Almiron. but also don't be surprised if we go for the Championship like Haj Wright, Lathe Latte and some shrewd experienced players like Ben Chilwell or Almiron, another coup would be the captain to have a word with his Eygyptian team mate Omar Mooroush currently one of the top scorers in Europe with Frankfurt. Funny how the one's who were crying over Muric failed to see he is one of the top shot stoppers in the Premiership too. Football is not just a game but a business and it wouldn't be good business if they did what others have done and not consider relegation especially as we did not expect to be there so soon. Our stadium is now Premiership ready, we have a young squad who are all getting Prem experience and are under contract and Mckenna is building a team to have longevity. I dont think we will go down and shrewd signings will be made in January as some of the league 1 batch are not prem standard yet, Jack Clarke is only young and a goal will do him world of good. I also think you will see the midfield rebuilt with quality, Morsy has done well but is getting too old, Cajuste and Phillips on loan so we need it strengthened so again it wouldn't be a shock to see Jobe Bellingham or some top 6 team fringe players. Mckenna is taking a leaf out of Sir Alex Fergusons book and nurturing a team of talent and youth with the vital mix of experience. Win, lose or draw support the team, we never dreamed we would be here already 2 years ago and now we have the infrastructure and credibility to sustain premiership status l and if we did have to drip down for a season I don't think a winning season together in championship and bounce back with more experience will do any harm at all if that were to unfortunately happen. The moaners on here are unbelievable. No game is Must Win until we really MUST WIN for survival, every game in Premiership anyone can beat anyone, we be Spurs and then the dame Spurs team beaten City its called football, if you did play it or watch it you would know that, in fact it's sport in general, Win, lose or draw we support the team we lovel and get behind whoever is on the pitch. Some fan favourites from last couple seasons will go and new heroes will arrive, that's the game. Coyb

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inghamspur added 08:12 - Dec 1 Next 2 games are must wins. We shouldn't be surprised that this is how it might be, with the huge step up into the big time. Just keep positive and believe that we only have to finish above 3 teams.
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MK1 added 08:57 - Dec 1 Much like the Man Utd game. Came away a bit disappointed. Thought we did enough for at least a point. Beat Bournemouth and this will soon be forgotten.
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Rimsy added 11:40 - Dec 1 Although disappointing to lose, you can't say we're out of our depth. We're not being hammered every week and if we keep learning and improving, points and wins will come. Still think we have enough about us to survive.
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Dissboyitfc added 13:36 - Dec 1 Cant believe some of the rubbish that is being written on here, the season is far from over especially with a transfer window still to come, may i remind some of the negative posters on here that our January business in the last 2 seasons has been spot on! Glad the players and KM wont be thinking its all doom and gloom! The mind boggles with some of the quotes by the self proclaimed experts!

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roystevensonsrocket added 13:44 - Dec 1 The unfortunate truth ,apart from possibly 2 players we are a team of championship players .I presume KM hoped to improve them ino prem players like he has hutch. But I gesstheres still time
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joyousblue added 14:44 - Dec 1 You blinkin moaners go support someone else , i was at forest at spurs and every away gameand even at the beginning we have not been totally outplayed i know !why dont we sign40 plus year old strikers and midfield players,lets sign strikersthat are injured yet demand more money ,its clear mckenna has signed players that will improve even more, delap is totally improved as has hutchinson , burgess is doing well oshea greaves , clarke will get better as will taylor , even if we finish 4th from bottom the team will be a year older wisernatural skills will show , some idiot commented on the use of lgue one players , hello they also got us through the championship , he has brought for the next few years , in the last few months Of the season the big club players at the evertons etc, the ones in the lower half will be thinking of changing clubs for a bigger pay check , our youngsters will be fighting to stay in the prem , we are so much betterthan agood third of the premier lgue clubs , we hardly lose or by the odd goal , we have matched them , the idiot who said season tkts will be easier to get next season , i hope when we have scintillating end to the season you can get one

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bluebullet29l added 15:29 - Dec 1 I hate to say it but one win in 13 just isn't good enough which will unfortunately see ipswich relegated. It's a shame and I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see any other outcome.
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blueboy1981 added 20:22 - Dec 1 Those that keep saying ‘we are not out of our depth’ are talking nonsense - of course we are, one WIN in 13 Games and only 9 Points, plus table position PROVES WE ARE !! What further proof should anyone need ?? Adopting the Ostrich pose by Supporters will change nothing - we have to IMPROVE and get Points on the Board - or you know where we’ll be competing again come August 25. Reality is what it is !!

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joyousblue added 20:42 - Dec 1 Blueboy your a idiot , go support someone else you saddo
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KiwiTractor added 23:31 - Dec 1 Out of interest, has anyone else noticed that 80%-90% of throw-ins taken by Leif Davis are thrown directly to the opposition? He very rarely takes a quick throw, he just delays until the defence are set, and then gives it back to them....
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mathiemagic added 07:54 - Dec 2 4 points from Spurs and Manure and I really thought we'd turned a corner, sadly not. Pretty even game against Forest but they nutralised Delap and we looked a little clueless without that option time and time again. Are we becoming a bit one dimensional or it just me? - I get the fact we have come a long way but 1 win in 1
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mathiemagic added 07:55 - Dec 2 .... 1 win in 13 really is relegation form. A win on Tuesday is a must really.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:00 - Dec 2 our last 4 games have yielded a win 2 draws,( one of which we were robbed, another which could've been all three) and a loss thats not relegation form and in an improving team. as for bluebook total comedian! been wrong in the last 2 seasons, you must love eggs, think you should be sick of them, the amount you wear on your face!
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