Roy Keane’s big spending Sunderland recorded a narrow win against an inexperienced Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground on Wednesday night.

Forest lined up without defender Wes Morgan, midfielders Stephen Hughes, Paul Anderson and Chris Cohen and forwards Andy Cole and Nathan Tyson. James Reid was offered his first start for the reds as he joined new recruits Guy Moussi and Rob Earnshaw in a make shift Forest side.

It was Forest who started the brighter of the two sides looking to test Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon early on. And it was Earnshaw who came closest to opening the scoring when he headed over from eight yards after good work from Luke Chambers. Earnshaw was in the action once again minutes later as his dipping free kick eased over the Sunderland crossbar.

Sunderland offered debuts to new boys Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tianio, and  El-Hadji Diouf, aswell as naming ex reds star Andy Reid in their starting 11. It was not long until the visitors found their feet with Danny Higgingbottom forcing a good save from Paul Smith after Reid’s set piece found the full back unmarked at the back post

Smith’s goal was soon under threat again after a mistake by James Reid was nearly punished by Daryl Murphy but the strikers effort was deflected by Kelvin Wilson for a corner. Keane’s boys continued to press but Forest held firm until the break.

Forest boss Colin Calderwood introduced trialist Sahr Senesie at the break aswell as youngster Garath McCleary.

The game opened up more in the second half with Diouf forcing a save from Smith and Guy Moussi shooting wide from 25yards for the Reds.

It was Sunderland who started to move up a gear and they broke the deadlock with 20minutes remaining after Anthony Stokes found Kieran Richardson unmarked from 18yards and the winger made no mistake finding the net with a delightful strike which had Premiership class all over it.

Forest continued to work hard but failed to create chances. Matt Thornhill, Emile Sinclair and Robert Earnshaw all tried in vain but it was to be Roy Keane’s night.

There is no doubt that Colin Calderwood can take positives from the game but he will be more than aware that his side must carry more of a threat infront of goal if they are to hit the ground running in two weeks time when the big kick off comes round!

Next up at the City Ground will be Reading for the season’s opener live on SKY - hoping to break curse of losing on live TV that continues even when on Setanta!

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson, Luke Chambers, Julian Bennett (Joe Heath 62min), Ian Breckin(C) (Brendon Moloney 79min), James Perch (Emile Sinclair 71min), Lewis McGugan (Sahr Senesie 45mnHT), Robert Earnshaw (Adam Newbold 79min), Arron Davies (Matt Thornhill 72min), James Reid (Garath McCleary 45minHT), Guy Moussi

Subs not used: Dale Roberts GK, Mark Byrne,  

Sunderland: Craig Gordon (Darren Ward 57min), Pascal Chimbonda (Phil Bardsley 57min), Danny Higginbotham, Teemu Tianio (Anthony Stokes, 57min), Nyron Nosworthy, Danny Collins (Nathan Luscumbe 57min), El-Hadji Diouf(Carlos Edwards 57min), Grant Leadbetter (Dean Whitehead 45minHT), Daryl Murphy (Michael Chopra 57min), Kieran Richardson, Andy Reid (C) 

Scorer: Richardson 71min   

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 12,573 Away attn: 2,377