Nottingham Forest 1-2 Bournemouth: David Brooks and Philip Billing score in Cherries win

Philip BillingImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Philip Billing has scored in all three of his Bournemouth appearances this season

Scott Parker claimed his first league win as Bournemouth boss thanks to Philip Billing's winner at Nottingham Forest.

The Cherries went ahead when a neat one-two with Dominic Solanke allowed David Brooks to calmly slot the ball past Brice Samba for his third goal of the season.

Scott McKenna levelled soon after the break, meeting Philip Zinckernagel's free-kick to power in a header.

But Billing's driven finish gave Bournemouth a first-ever win at the City Ground, combining well with Brooks who was sent off moments later after collecting a second yellow card.

Both teams were looking for their first league wins of the season, with Bournemouth held to a home draw by West Brom, and Forest conceding a last-gasp Coventry winner in their opening matches.

Despite only six home league wins last season, Forest threatened early via set-pieces, but Billing drew the first save of the match as Samba tipped his shot from a tight angle moments before Brooks' opener.

Brooks sent another effort just wide, but Forest - roared on by fans for the first time in the Championship since March 2020 - almost levelled before half-time, as Ryan Yates' 25-yard piledriver hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

McKenna duly levelled, but Billing's swift response proved conclusive as the hosts failed to capitalise on Brooks' dismissal with half an hour remaining for pulling back Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu.

The 10 men were forced back, with Alex Mighten firing narrowly over after a run into the box.

Zinckernagel then saw his powerful goal-bound effort thwarted by Cherries goalkeeper Mark Travers in stoppage-time as Forest's winless league run, stretching to last season, extended to eight games.

Forest manager Chris Hughton told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"We showed glimpses of good quality and there were some decent performances, but we conceded two really soft goals. If you give a team with quality players that they will hurt you.

"It always worries me when we lose any football match, but if we start feeling sorry for ourselves there will only be one outcome.

"We've got to dust ourselves down and make sure we continue to show a lot more of the good things that we did and make ourselves more resilient at the other end."

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Solent:

"At times we were brilliant in terms of our general play with 11 men and, even with 10, with the courage that the players showed. You get a man sent off after 60 minutes and you have to show another side. It's now about guts and defending your goal.

"You have seen the brilliance of what David Brooks is about - the goal he scored and even his contribution to our other goal, but the flip side is he's made a bit of a mistake.

"He is sheepish in there as you would expect. He's let the team down and for 30 minute his team-mates had to dig him out of a bit of a hole, but that can't happen. It was petulant, it was silly."

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