FC Midtjylland (H) 02/10/25

 

Nottingham Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland 

Ndoye 22'                                      Diao 18'

Wood 90+3' (Pen)                         Bech 24'

                                                        Bsykov 88' 

 

‘For a new generation, our time has come’, read the tifo from Forza Garibaldi. Three decades of fans have never known a world where Forest have played a European game at home. The build-up caused goosebumps: pyrotechnics, fire, a light show, a Trent End display and the booming Europa League anthem. Everything was set for a big occasion, but the game was anything but that.

This was the Reds first ever meeting with Danish opposition, but both were coming into the game on a completely different run of form. In the Europa League, Forest had earned a point away at Real Betis and Midtjylland had come out 2-0 winners against Sturm Graz. In their respective leagues, Postecoglou’s side were yet to win under him and hadn’t won a league game since the opening day. Midtjylland had only lost 1 in 11 games in their league, the Superligaen, where they sat second.

After a deafening Mull of Kintyre, the visitors got the game underway. After having to see off an early free-kick opportunity, Forest settled into the game the better side. They had a couple of corners that were defended by Midtjylland and they were letting fly from distance. The closest effort came from Hudson-Odoi who fired for the top right corner, but his effort flew just wide. For all their early pressure, the Reds found themselves a goal down. Referee, Willy Delajod, gave the Wolves a controversial free-kick on the right deep into Forest’s half. The dead ball was swung in and flicked on at the near post by Mads Bech. At the back post, Ousmane Diao managed to get free of his marker and poke the ball home.

Looking for an immediate response, Ndoye took on an effort from outside the box that was tipped out for a corner by Olafsson. The resulting corner was whipped in from the right by Anderson. After a scramble in the box, the ball finally landed for an unmarked Milenkovic around 8 yards from goal but his first time effort was tipped over the bar by the Midtjylland ‘keeper. After two good opportunities, the hosts found an equaliser. After being closed down, Sels booted the ball up the field, looking for the run of Gibbs-White down the right. He managed to run free of his marker and play a first time low ball across the box which was met by Ndoye for a simple finish.

Forest’s joy lasted two minutes before they were behind again. Simsir whipped in a corner from the left which was flicked on at the front post by Billing. Erlic met the ball just two yards from goal, but his nod down was saved by Sels. Unfortunately for Forest, the ball landed to the feet of Bach who stretched to poke in the rebound. The Reds were almost done by another set piece as Diao flicked a header goalward from a corner, but it was just wide of the left post. The rest of the half saw Forest looking to get themselves back on level terms, however they couldn’t create anything to trouble the Midtjylland defence.

The hosts came out in the second half the more dominant side. Shots from Anderson and Sangare flew just wide of the goal but other than that they didn’t create any real chances. In the 70^th minute, the Reds had had 19 shots but only one had been converted into a goal. The Reds had managed to put the ball in the net twice, both by Chris Wood, but offsides in the build-up meant they had to be disallowed. The second half was all one-way traffic towards the Midtjylland goal as Forest were really piling on the pressure. Sangare found Gibbs-White to the right of the box with a lovely pass. The Englishman turned to get a shot off  with Olafsson parrying the ball wide of the right post brilliantly.

Despite being pinned back into their own half for the majority of the second period, Midtjylland found a third to kill the game off and turn the City Ground in a moment of toxicity. Anderson played a corner on the left short to Hudson-Odoi who looked to have been fouled by Osorio. The referee played on and the Chilean burst forward after skipping past Gibbs-White. The youngster made 50 yards before passing to Byskov who was now one-on-one with Sels. The substitute slotted the ball past the Forest ‘keeper. The Reds will feel hard done by as Hudson-Odoi looked to have been tripped and Gibbs-White couldn’t challenge Osorio as he had already been booked. This didn’t stop the atmosphere from getting hostile. Forest fans started flooding out the exits and “you’re getting sacked in the morning” chants towards Postecoglou rang round the City Ground.

The drama didn’t stop there. Milenkovic whipped in a ball from the left and as Anderson tried to bring it under control, the back of his right leg was kicked by Diao. The referee didn’t give it as a foul in real time but after he went to review it at the screen, he awarded a penalty. Chris Wood calmly rolled the ball into the bottom left corner to give Forest a bit of hope. They continued to find another goal, however Midtjylland were resilient to take three points back to Denmark.

Thursday night was so frustrating. We conceded from two set pieces which are basics in football. After that we did dominate and we were the much better side but our decision making and that final ball just lets us down. It is all well having possession and getting yourself up the field but if you can’t create anything with that it means nothing. Our goal was really nicely worked though. Apart from their third goal which I actually think is a foul on Hudson-Odoi, they barely created any opportunities from open play. I don’t agree with chanting that at Ange and chanting about Nuno especially when he pushed a move out of the club as we need to stick together now more than ever.

 

Forest: Sels; Milenkovic, Morato, Murillo (Savona 28’); Ndoye, Anderson, Sangare, Williams; Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus (Wood 75’), Hudson-Odoi

Midtjylland: Olafsson; Diao, Erlic, Bech; Mbabu (Lee 66’), Castillo (Bravo 66’), Billing, Bak; Brumado (Franculino 87’), Cho (Byskov 66’), Simsir (Osorio 58’)