An own goal from Steve Cook and a scrambled finish from Tyrese Campbell saw Nottingham Forest lose 2-1 to Stoke City at Loughborough University Stadium on Friday evening.
The match, Forest's first since pausing for the World Cup three weeks ago, had a pre-season feel to it.
It felt very much like a fitness exercise for Steve Cooper's men, who were looking to get through the game cautiously ahead of their trip to Greece.
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Stoke had the better of the chances in the first half, with Jacob Brown and Dwight Gayle both going close for the Potters. Forest had the better of possession but could do little with it, until breaking the deadlock through Morgan Gibbs-White just before the break.
In the second period, things got a little livelier. Cook was unfortunate to turn a Campbell effort into his own net, before Campbell came out from a goalmouth scramble with the ball and managed to poke it home.
Here is how we rated the Forest players on a cold Friday night in Loughborough:
Dean Henderson : Stoke had a few chances but none troubled him too much. Did what he needed to do and had a couple of moments were he needed to be composed with the ball at his feet. 6
Loic Mbe Soh : An average 45 minutes at right-back. Did not look overly comfortable and didn't cause too much trouble going forwards. 5
Joe Worrall : A commanding leader at the back. Made some great decisions to step out and win the ball from advancing Stoke players at the right times. 7
Willy Boly : An okay evening in the centre of defence. Worked well alongside Worrall, though his partner had that bit more to do and took the reigns out there. 6
Harry Toffolo : A decent defensive performance and, while not having a huge effect on the game going forward, looked to be more attacking than Mbe Soh. 6.5
Orel Mangala : Shielded the back four, receiving the ball well and turning in tight spaces. Did the basics well but wasn't too influential. 6
Billy Fewster : Held his own in the middle of the park against Championship opposition. Will be pleased with his performance and has a bright future ahead of him. 7
Lewis O'Brien : Like many of his teammates, did okay without having too big an influence on the game. Looked comfortable on the ball. 6
Emmanuel Dennis : A quiet 45 for Dennis, who didn't have the ball at his feet enough to show what he can do. A fitness exercise in Loughborough but he would have liked to have a bigger impact on the game. 6
Morgan Gibbs-White : By far the most lively of Forest's attacking players in the first half. There was not too much attacking action, but when there was, he was at the heart of it. Got a deserved goal in the 45th minute too. 7.5
Taiwo Awoniyi : Did well to help set up Gibbs-White's goal, but didn't have much of an impact on the game - much like many of his teammates in this friendly. 6
Jordan Smith : Much like Henderson in the first half, Smith looked comfortable between the sticks without being tested a great deal. 6.5
Loic Badé : Grew into the half as it went on. Drifted inside and put in some good crosses towards the end of the game. 6
Steve Cook : Was unfortunate to score an own goal that gave Stoke their equaliser. Was involved in the goalmouth scramble for their second. 5
Scott McKenna : An adequate display at centre-half. Looked comfortable but was not challenged too much. 6
Renan Lodi : Looked comfortable at left-back. More at ease getting forward as the half went on and put in a couple of decent balls. 6.5
Jack Colback : Did pretty well in the defensive midfield role. Showed maturity in defence areas and did what was required of him. 6.5
Cafú : Some neat combination play in the middle of the park, linking up well with Yates and Hammond in particular. The most attacking of Forest's three midfielders, constantly looking to break into the final third when possible. 7
Ryan Yates : Controlled the play nicely in the middle of the park. Worked hard in there and looked to make things happen by looking for the energetic runs of Osong and Hammond. 6.5
Detlef Esapa Osong : Looked to show his pace and get in behind the Stoke defence. A bright spark in the Forest forward line. 6.5
Sam Surridge : Didn't really make too much happen. Perhaps did not get the service he would have liked from midfield and had a frustrating half. 6
Oli Hammond : Youngster looked to make an impact and had a couple of good chances. Looked lively going forward. 7
What did you make of the game in Loughborough this evening? Let us know in the comments section.
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