Nottingham Forest 1-0 Huddersfield
Last updated on .From the section Football
Henri Lansbury's goal gave Nottingham Forest the win in a close match with Huddersfield Town at the City Ground.
A cross from the left from Forest skipper Chris Cohen was tapped in from close range by Lansbury on 53 minutes.
The goal came shortly after Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow had denied James Vaughan with a low reaction save.
Vaughan wasted a good chance to level when he headed wide, while Matt Derbyshire was close to touching home an Andy Reid cross for Forest late on.
Four goals in pre-season had helped Derbyshire force his way into Billy Davies' starting line-up, which also included three of the Forest manager's summer signings in Jack Hobbs, Eric Lichaj and Jamie Mackie.
Huddersfield boss Mark Robins also picked three new arrivals in Vaughan, Martin Paterson and Jonathan Hogg.
Paterson had a deflected shot loop over the Forest crossbar in the first half, while the home side went close with efforts from Lichaj and Adlene Guedioura.
But Forest, who finished last season one point short of the play-off places, edged ahead after half-time when, following a swift exchange of passes with Reid, Cohen's cross eluded Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies to allow Lansbury a simple chance to take the lead. which he took.
Vaughan spurned the opportunity to draw Huddersfield level when he nodded a good cross from Paul Dixon's good cross wide.
Although Derbyshire could not make contact with Hobbs's flick from a Reid free kick at the far post, Forest's one-goal lead proved to be enough to give them all three points.
Forest manager Billy Davies:
"There is work to do, we still need to work on our fitness, but the most important thing is that we picked up three points.
"Some of the players still need another week of training, we have partnerships to work on and fitness to work on. That will take a few weeks.
"Our new signings also still need to get to know each other and that will take many games. We need to find a balance and a consistency. It takes time to develop a team and build a club."
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins:
"We were organised, we were not bad. It was the first game of the season and we have not come away with anything, but there were things for us to be pleased with.
"We were okay, there is a lot for us to work with. We were not quite there, but there are positives. We frustrated a really good Forest side.
"Not many sides will come here and get much. The way they play is fluid and they will be a real force when they get into their stride in this division."
