Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bristol City
- Published
Ben Osborn scored only his second goal of the season
Ben Osborn's goal gave Nottingham Forest caretaker boss Gary Brazil a winning start against Bristol City.
Hundreds of Forest fans protested outside the City Ground before kick-off against owner Fawaz Al Hasawi following the latest failed takeover of the club.
But Osborn sent them home happy, with a slick free-kick routine, flicking up Matty Cash's lay-off and volleying in.
City threatened after the break, but slumped to a club record eighth successive league defeat.
Forest, playing their first game since the sacking of Philippe Montanier, went closest in a quiet first half when Cash's deflected shot forced a smart stop from Fabian Giefer.
The German keeper, making his debut after his midweek loan move from Schalke, then denied Britt Assombalonga's strike and Matt Mills as the game sparked into life after half-time.
City responded well with Jamie Paterson volleying wide and Forest keeper Stephen Henderson denying leading scorer Tammy Abraham.
The Reds had to survive intense later pressure after centre-half Mills, who replaced Henri Lansbury as skipper following his move to Aston Villa, was forced off with a groin injury.
But the hosts almost added a second goal in stoppage time when substitute Nicklas Bendtner's 40-yard effort drifted just wide.
Forest's first win in eight league games keeps them in 19th, while City, who have lost 11 of their last 12 league matches, are just two points above the relegation places in 20th.
Nottingham Forest caretaker manager Gary Brazil: "It wasn't hard to give Ben Osborn his debut two years ago, and now he is showing the quality we knew he always had.
"We defended brilliantly in the first half. We do need more quality in the final third but that will come.
"We asked for commitment and character and as the game went on we had real men on the pitch - I'm proud of them."
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson: "Eight consecutive league defeats is a horrendous statistic. When we spoke at the start of the year about history makers, it was supposed to be positive, not a history that's bad history.
"I'm ashamed of that, of course I am, and I've said to the players that and we need to make sure we start making history in a positive way - and we can still do that this year.
"We're not in the relegation zone at this point and we need to fight our way back up the table and I believe we can."