Nottingham Forest 0-1 Bristol City: Martin O'Neill's 'emotional' return spoiled by Famara Diedhiou strike
- Published
Famara Diedhiou broke the deadlock for Bristol City at a sold out City Ground
Martin O'Neill says the passionate reception he received on his Nottingham Forest homecoming made him feel "honoured" and "emotional" and further fuelled his desire to be successful after his first game as manager ended in defeat.
Famara Diedhiou's strike earned Bristol City a fourth successive Championship victory against their promotion-chasing rivals in front of a sell-out City Ground crowd.
New boss O'Neill, a European Cup winner as a Reds player, received a wonderful pre-match greeting but his side struggled to create chances and looked edgy at the back.
Home keeper Costel Pantilimon had to make good saves from Andreas Weimann and Callum O'Dowda to keep Forest level before the break.
And although Reds debutant Yohan Benalouane forced a great stop from Frank Fielding, Diedhiou's calm finish after a slick move earned a win which keeps the Robins just two points outside of the play-offs.
"Naturally it's disappointing to lose and it's a learning curve for me," said 66-year-old O'Neill, who only took his first training session on Tuesday, and is still waiting to see whether former Republic of Ireland Roy Keane will be joining him at the club.
"We were second best in the first half. The players were anxious and wanted to impress.
"I got a great reaction [before the game]. It was quite emotional. I am very honoured. Now I want to settle down and put my stamp on the team. I want to make an impact."
A dingy, cold and miserable day in Nottingham did not affect the enthusiasm among home supporters, who were eager to welcome back O'Neill 38 years after he left the club following a decade-long, trophy-laden spell as a player.
Martin O'Neill succeeds Aitor Karanka as manager at Nottingham Forest
But both the match - and result - were a huge anti-climax, despite an encouraging start which saw Joe Lolley hook an effort narrowly wide inside two minutes.
Lolley also headed over from six yards during the first half, but it was City who were the more cohesive and dangerous.
Tomas Kalas excelled at centre-half, captain Marlon Pack impressed in front of the back four and Josh Brownhill brought a calmness and authority in a slightly more advanced midfield role.
After an uninspiring first half, Forest upped the urgency and when Benalouane's header finally forced Fielding into action after a sustained spell of home pressure it seemed as though the hosts were getting on top.
But the away keeper's brilliant reaction save from close range was as near as O'Neill's side got.
City soon silenced the home fans when substitute Kasey Palmer's incisive pass freed up Weimann and his pull-back was turned in by Diedhiou for his eighth goal of the season.
Forest rarely threatened to level in an increasingly tetchy match and City had little trouble securing a deserved win - their seventh in 11 matches.
Will sentiment and success collide at the City Ground?
O'Neill's Forest return has been greeted with a strong feeling of optimism given his mightily impressive club management record, chiefly with Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.
But Reds fans have had too many false dawns to be overly confident, with years of off-pitch turmoil and a succession of managers resulting in 20 years playing outside of England's top division.
The City Ground was sold out for Martin O'Neill's return to Nottingham Forest
Another club legend, Stuart Pearce, failed to follow a legendary playing Forest career with success as boss.
But O'Neill has inherited a more settled squad than previous incumbents and, despite the defeat - their fourth in six in the league - Forest are still only seven points adrift of the play-offs.
He switched formations to 4-4-2, with Lewis Grabban and Daryl Murphy up front, but the attempt to play at a fast tempo and get the crowd going did not yield the desired results.
"I thought we could get momentum early on but they settled much better," O'Neill said. "We gave the ball away too easily and that contributed to a nervy first half. They were in control. In the second half we got some momentum going and we had a couple of chances as well.
"But there were times when we allowed them a bit too much room to play."
Forest's cause was not helped by having to play a much weakened defence because of injuries and suspension - especially as they faced a well-organised Bristol City side who were settled and confident in their system and approach.
And that was despite their own defensive injury troubles which saw Fielding playing his first game of the season and left-back Jay Dasilva making just his sixth league start for the Robins.
Forest looked disjointed in their own half, but O'Neill's record, passion and drive cannot be questioned and there is a fair chance he will have money to spend in the transfer window.
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"It was always going to be a tough one given the occasion, with the prodigal son (O'Neill) returning, but I thought we were very professional.
"We had a tough week with injuries, but the boys that came in were very good. We looked fit, mobile and athletic. Nottingham Forest have got quality and there were times we had to defend well.
"It's good that we can bring on someone who's dynamic and as good as Kasey (Palmer). He will start in the next one against Bolton, I thought he was excellent when he came on."