Rise and shine, it's Sunday, March 13, 2022, and these are the latest Nottingham Forest headlines brought to you by NottinghamshireLive after Steve Cooper's side cruised to a 4-0 win over Reading.
Steve Cooper explains brief Keinan Davis chat after two-goal showing
Tutoring from injured Nottingham Forest striker Lewis Grabban has paid dividends for Keinan Davis.
The on-loan Aston Villa man bagged a brace as the Reds thumped Reading 4-0 at the City Ground to move within two points of the play-off spots.
And afterwards, boss Steve Cooper revealed how Davis' first strike came following mentoring from Grabban over goal-poaching in the penalty area.
"It was a brilliant start to the game - not just the fact we scored, but how we scored. We showed good intent," said Cooper.
"We know we fell short then for the rest of the first half, in terms of performance levels. It became a fairly even game.
"We wanted to be a better team than we were in the first half."
He added: "Out of all of the goals, probably the one which really pleases me is Keinan's first, because of where he is. We've been doing a lot of work with him - and Grabbs has been doing a lot of work with him as well - about that instinct in the box.
"Lewis has got that know-how.
"The first thing Keinan said to me afterwards was, 'Grabbs' about the first goal."
Read the full story by clicking here
Embarrassed Paul Ince left raging as Reading drawn into relegation 'dogfight'
Reading interim boss Paul Ince has described his side's performance as "embarrassing" after they were easily beaten 4-0 by Nottingham Forest.
The Royals have now lost three games on the bounce and find themselves being drawn into a relegation fight with just four points separating them and 22nd-placed Barnsley.
Ince was particularly frustrated by his side's slow start, allowing Keinan Davis to open the scoring for Forest inside the opening 18 seconds.
"I'm disappointed, especially with the second half," he said. It was embarrassing. You can see why the team leaks goals. They've got a soft underbelly.
"We came here with a game plan but after 18 seconds it goes out the window. You can't be conceding goals after 18 seconds. I told them about Djed Spence and we showed them enough stuff on him but before you know it we're 1-0 down.
But after that we were brilliant, they didn't have a shot in the first half and we had two wonderful chances with Morrison and Laurent who I thought was outstanding."
Read Paul Ince's full dressing down of his players' performance vs Forest here
Keinan Davis stars in win as Reds suffer double injury concern
A Keinan Davis brace helped Nottingham Forest on their way to a 4-0 thumping of Reading at the City Ground.
Ryan Yates and Sam Surridge also got on the scoresheet against the Royals, but injuries to Max Lowe and Steve Cook put a dampener on the afternoon for the Reds.
The hosts got off to the perfect start, taking the lead with less than 20 seconds on the clock.
A lovely ball from Joe Worrall set Djed Spence free down the right, with the ball into the box finding Davis in the area. The Aston Villa loanee took a touch, turned and drilled past Luke Southwood for 1-0.
After that, the Reds lost their way. They became sloppy and gave their opponents glimpses of getting back into the game.
Just before the break Forest were dealt a blow when Lowe was forced off with what looked to be a groin injury, with Cafu coming on in his place.
Forest had started the second half much better than they finished the first, and they got their reward just past the hour mark.
Another delightful ball from Worrall found Davis, who took a nice touch and powered forward before hammering a fierce shot in for 2-0.
Ryan Yates then added gloss to the scoreline with 15 minutes to go, continuing his goalscoring streak with a fabulous effort from 20 yards out. And Sam Surridge got in on the act soon after, applying a side-footed finish to a cross from Xande Silva.
There was another injury blow for Forest just before the whistle, though, when Cook had to be helped off the pitch.
Read Sarah Clapson's player ratings here
Steve Cooper shares injury update after being forced off against Reading
Forest boss Steve Cooper said he has his "fingers crossed" that an injury to veteran defender Steve Cook will not be too serious after he had to be helped off the pitch late on in the win over Reading.
Cook, 30, had to be assisted off the pitch by medical staff early in stoppage time against the Royals with Forest well on their way to a 4-0 win.
His departure was the second injury blow suffered by Forest as defender Max Lowe also had to be substituted - albeit in the first-half - after a suspected groin issue.
“It’s come at a bit of a cost, with the two injuries. We’ll see how they are,” said Cooper.
“With Cookie, we think it might be his ankle. It’s too early to say exactly how bad it is, so I don’t want to say anything too much.
“We’ve all got our fingers crossed for him and Max.”
Read defender Steve Cook's update on his injury by clicking here
