Victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup was the best possible preparation for Nottingham Forest's return to Premier League action - and not just because of the result.
In their first game back after the World Cup break, the Reds progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition with a confidence-boosting 4-1 win at Ewood Park. But, for head coach Steve Cooper, acknowledging the aspects of the performance he wasn’t so happy with is just as important.
The visitors were left to rue not making the most of a glut of chances when Rovers cancelled out a Brennan Johnson penalty just before the break. Cooper's side showed more of a clinical edge in the second half, however, with Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi getting on the scoresheet before Johnson bagged his second of the night.
