Head coach Steve Cooper reflected on “loads of pluses” as Nottingham Forest eased into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win at Grimsby Town.
A Ryan Yates thunderbolt and an excellent Sam Surridge brace saw the Reds triumph at Blundell Park. But Cooper was also pleased at being able to give a number of players debuts for the club.
The Welshman changed his entire XI from that which had lined up at Everton on Saturday. Summer signings Wayne Hennessey, Giulian Biancone, Cheikhou Kouyate, Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis, along with teenager Aaron Donnelly, all started for the first time, while there were run-outs for youngsters Oli Hammond, Dale Taylor and 16-year-old Zach Abbott from off the bench.
