O'Brien, Niakhate see action as Forest lose at Union Berlin | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest lost 1-0 to Union Berlin in Germany yesterday.

Forest boss Steve Cooper named a strong line up that included club-record signing Taiwo Awoniyi who joined earlier in the summer from today's hosts and a first appearance for Lewis O'Brien.

Union started brightly, creating waves of opportunity in the opening minutes. Dean Henderson was called into action as he tipped a close ranger header around the post when it seemed destined to find the back of the net. The pressure did not let up there as the hosts continued to assert their early dominance, although they lacked the clinical edge in and around the six-yard box.

As the first half progressed it became an evenly contested battle in the middle of the field with few clear chances at either end, until the 36th minute when Steve Cook's pass across the backline failed to reach Scott McKenna. He looked to redeem himself with a crunching tackle on Jordan Siebatcheu who had picked up the loose ball, however, it fell to Trimmel who was able to fire a low ball towards the near post and Siebatcheu was on hand to bundle the ball across the line from a yard out.

The Reds made one change at the half-time break as Moussa Niakhaté was introduced to the fold in place of Steve Cook.

And the game eventually petered out with Union in control of this preseason friendly.

Full Time: Union Berlin 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest: Dean Henderson; Scott McKenna, Steve Cook, Joe Worrall; Harry Toffolo, Neco Williams; Jack Colback, Lewis O'Brien; Brennan Johnson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Alex Mighten

Substitutes on: Moussa Niakhaté, Lyle Taylor, Cafú, Giulian Biancone, Oli Hammond, Dale Taylor, Richie Laryea, Löic Mbe Soh

Union Berlin: Rönnow, Jaeckel, Khedira, Haberer, Gießelmann, Haraguchi, Becker, Trimmel, Knoche, Heintz, Siebatcheu