Forest off to a bright start

Nottingham Forest 2 Sunderland 0

Nottingham Forest’s Marlon Harewood and Mathieu Louis-Jean gave Paul Hart’s side a 2-0 Division One win and inflicted a 14th straight defeat on relegated Sunderland.

Harewood put Forest one up against the run of play in the 19th minute, calmly taking the ball around Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom to slot home from a tight angle after a precise through-ball by Andy Reid.

The same man was the provider again four minutes before half-time when Reid’s corner found an unmarked Louis-Jean at the near post.

Harewood had the ball in the net again before half-time from a Michael Stewart corner – but the goal was disallowed for pushing by John Thompson on Poom.

It was Sunderland who had been on top early on, creating a glut of early chances for home-grown striker Michael Proctor.

Playing without Kevin Phillips and Michael Gray – and with Gavin McCann, Thomas Sorensen, Jody Craddock and David Bellion all departed – the visitors set out with a freedom in total contrast to their showings in the Barclaycard Premiership last season.

The problem was that Proctor failed to take his chances.

First the 22-year-old pounced on a mistake by veteran Forest defender Des Walker. But he was forced wide, and his cross for the rapidly-advancing John Oster rolled across the six-yard box.

In the same passage of play, Wales winger Oster crossed for Proctor who headed straight at Darren Ward in the Forest goal.

Proctor was involved yet again as he found space in a congested penalty area to pick out fellow striker Kevin Kyle, whose shot came back off the post with Ward well beaten.

The Sunderland striker also lobbed wide, having beaten Thompson for pace, saw another effort roll past the post and hit an overhead kick straight at Ward.

The lively Proctor had two further chances after the break, before Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy brought on former Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart.

Chances continued to flow in the second period as the frenetic pace refused to abate.

David Johnson, who scored 29 goals for Forest last season, began to threaten more with his explosive pace – but he fired his best effort well over the bar.

Sunderland’s best second-half chance saw Kyle head straight at Ward following a cross from new captain Jason McAteer.

But they failed to find a way back into the game.

McCarthy may have expected an easier time in the First Division, starting with Forest – but Sunderland are clearly not out of the woods yet.