Nottingham Forest manager Martin O’Neill highlights debut of academy graduate Ryan Yates

Boss Martin O’Neill praised young academy graduate Ryan Yates after the midfielder starred on his debut in the 2-0 home win over Brentford.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Martin O'Neill of Nottingham Forest jumps in celebration as Molla Wague scores the second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and  Brentford at City Ground on February 09, 2019 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Martin O'Neill of Nottingham Forest jumps in celebration as Molla Wague scores the second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and  Brentford at City Ground on February 09, 2019 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Martin O'Neill of Nottingham Forest jumps in celebration as Molla Wague scores the second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Brentford at City Ground on February 09, 2019 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The midfielder was part of a solid performance that saw Forest score in either half — through Lewis Grabban and debutant Molla Wague — before a late Brentford fightback.

However, it was not enough to stop Forest getting back into the play-off race, despite squandering a second half penalty.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “There were some terrific performances out there today, especially young Ryan Yates who I thought was fantastic.

“I’m delighted for Ryan. He has been exceptional in training, his enthusiasm is immense and he desperately wants to play for this football club. He’s taken his chance today and he’s done very well so I’m hugely pleased for him.

“Lewis Grabban did excellently as well. His whole performance was very strong, he worked exceptionally hard and we tried to get as much help up to him as possible. I was concerned about him playing up top on his own but overall I thought his performance was superb.”

O’Neill was a winner for the second time in charge of the Reds after Grabban collected Alex Milosevic’s ball over the defence and held off a challenge before getting away a shot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His first effort was saved but Grabban tucked away the rebound to make it 1-0 after just 16 minutes.

Grabban was denied a second from the penalty spot and Bees keeper Daniel Bentley made another fine stop to keep out Ben Watson’s follow-up.

However, substitute Wague headed in Joe Lolley’s corner to double the Reds’ advantage before Sergi Canos poked in two minutes from time to set up a nervous finish.

O’Neill added: “I’m delighted to have won the game. It was a very difficult match against a very fine footballing side in Brentford. We had some really good opportunities, particularly Leo Bonatini’s chance to make it 2-0, but thankfully we got that second goal in the end.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We had to survive some nervous moments at the end but thankfully we did and I’m delighted with the victory. There was a 10-15 minute period in the first half where we allowed Brentford to dominate and we allowed them to play through us but we rectified that in the second half.

“The onus was on us to get forward from the first minute and I think we did that. We made a tactical change at half-time because Leo Bonatini was looking a little bit tired and we thought we may benefit from some fresh legs.

“I have seen a lot of Brentford in recent years and they are a very fine football side.

“You wanted to take the game away from them a little bit, but it wasn’t to be. We missed a penalty too and we had to survive those anxious moments at the end, when they scored.”