Dexter Blackstock's second-half strike secured Nottingham Forest a narrow victory at League Two Fleetwood.

The striker saw his header from Andy Reid's left-wing cross saved by Scott Davies but bundled in the rebound.

Blackstock also hit the crossbar with a point-blank effort, while Greg Halford saw his overhead kick saved.

Fleetwood, playing in their first League Cup tie, went close in the first half through Jon Parkin, while Steven Gillespie fired over after the break.

Forest substitute Marcus Tudgay came close to getting Forest's second, but put his header wide moments after replacing Blackstock.

Parkin also had a chance to level in injury time but saw his looping header saved by Karl Darlow, who made his first competitive start for Forest.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Fleetwood Town manager Micky Mellon told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The biggest tribute I can pay to my players is that anyone coming here not knowing the two teams, you wouldn't have said there was two levels between them.

"Sometimes we probably shaded it, without creating loads and loads of chances.

"We'll take the lessons from this game and we'll make sure it makes us a better team.

"We'll take a lot of pride in knowing that, for large periods, we matched Nottingham Forest."

Nottingham Forest manager Sean O'Driscoll told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I was pleased with our organisation. We have thrown a back four together and that was their first 90 minutes.

"We managed to change things at half-time without changing personnel. The versatility of Greg Halford has helped us and then will stand us in good stead.

"I think the result goes to us but the plaudits go to Fleetwood. I thought they were excellent. They will do well in League Two."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (4)

Fleetwood Town

  • 01 Davies
  • 02 Beeley
  • 03 Howell
  • 05 McNulty
  • 15 McLaughlin (Fowler - 69' )
  • 28 Mawene
  • 11 Nicholson
  • 18 McGuire Booked
  • 09 Parkin
  • 14 Mangan
  • 26 Ball (Gillespie - 63' )

Substitutes

  • 40 Thewlis
  • 12 Brown
  • 13 Goodall
  • 08 Milligan
  • 10 Fowler
  • 31 Kinsella
  • 19 Gillespie

Nottingham Forest

  • 12 Darlow
  • 03 Harding
  • 05 Collins
  • 15 Halford
  • 18 Moloney
  • 26 Ayala
  • 07 Guedioura
  • 10 McGugan
  • 11 Reid
  • 28 Majewski (Greening - 88' )
  • 23 Blackstock (Tudgay - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Evtimov
  • 16 Lascelles
  • 14 Greening
  • 17 McGoldrick
  • 20 Tudgay
  • 25 Miller
  • 27 Derbyshire
Ref: Naylor
Att: 3,611

Match Stats

Shots

10 14

On target

4 8

Corners

2 4

Fouls

11 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:27 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:58

The referee blows for offside against Marcus Tudgay. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Davies.

90:00 +1:56

Jon Parkin takes a shot. Save made by Karl Darlow.

90:00 +1:04

Lewis McGugan takes a shot. Scott Davies makes a comfortable save.

89:35

Jamie McGuire takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow.

87:17 Substitution

Substitution Radoslaw Majewski goes off and Jonathan Greening comes on.

87:17

Steven Gillespie produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

86:56

Centre by Andy Reid, Steve McNulty manages to make a clearance.

84:58

Corner from the right by-line taken by Andy Reid, Adlene Guedioura takes a shot. Save made by Scott Davies.

84:21

Andy Reid takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Beeley.

83:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Greg Halford by Shaun Beeley. Danny Collins takes the free kick.

82:49

Headed effort from inside the area by Radoslaw Majewski misses to the left of the goal.

80:27 Substitution

Substitution Marcus Tudgay joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dexter Blackstock.

76:08

The ball is swung over by Adlene Guedioura.

75:08

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Jon Parkin misses to the left of the goal.

73:58

Lewis McGugan has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

73:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dexter Blackstock on Shaun Beeley. Scott Davies takes the direct free kick.

72:05

Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

72:05 Booking

Booking Jamie McGuire booked for unsporting behaviour.

71:56

Jamie McGuire gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Reid.

69:36

Daniel Ayala concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Fowler. The ball is delivered by Barry Nicholson, Header by Jon Parkin from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

68:21 Substitution

Substitution Lee Fowler is brought on as a substitute for Conor McLaughlin.

65:45

Greg Halford has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Save made by Scott Davies.

65:17

Corner taken short by Andy Reid.

64:08

Greg Halford fouled by Andy Mangan, the ref awards a free kick. Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

63:15

Adlene Guedioura delivers the ball.

61:35

Andy Reid has an effort direct from the free kick, save made by Scott Davies.

61:35 Substitution

Substitution David Ball leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Gillespie.

61:35

Youl Mawene concedes a free kick for a foul on Adlene Guedioura.

59:48

Shot from outside the penalty box by Jamie McGuire goes wide right of the goal.

56:35

Assist by Andy Reid.

56:35 Goal scored

Goal - Dexter Blackstock - Fleetwood 0 - 1 Nott'm For Goal scored by Dexter Blackstock from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Fleetwood Town 0-1 Nottm Forest.

56:31

Dexter Blackstock takes a shot. Scott Davies makes a save.

53:11

Shot by Dexter Blackstock from 6 yards. Short corner taken by Adlene Guedioura.

52:55

The ball is swung over by Lewis McGugan, save by Scott Davies.

48:36

Dean Howell challenges Brendan Moloney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Lewis McGugan.

47:11

Effort from outside the penalty box by Andy Mangan goes wide left of the target.

45:19

Foul by Conor McLaughlin on Adlene Guedioura, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Lewis McGugan.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:16 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +0:14

Jamie McGuire gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Radoslaw Majewski. Lewis McGugan takes the free kick.

44:31

Lewis McGugan has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.

39:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Greg Halford by Jon Parkin. Andy Reid crosses the ball in from the free kick, comfortable save by Scott Davies.

38:29

Dexter Blackstock challenges Jamie McGuire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Davies takes the direct free kick.

37:42

David Ball is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Karl Darlow takes the indirect free kick.

35:34

Barry Nicholson takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Daniel Ayala.

34:14

Andy Reid produces a cross, Shaun Beeley gets a block in. Andy Reid decides to take the corner short.

29:18

Radoslaw Majewski fouled by David Ball, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Collins restarts play with the free kick.

26:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Ayala by Jon Parkin. Free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

25:28

The ball is swung over by Andy Reid.

22:47

Shaun Beeley produces a cross, clearance made by Brendan Moloney.

22:18

Jamie McGuire fouled by Adlene Guedioura, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie McGuire takes the direct free kick.

20:35

Shaun Beeley takes a shot. Blocked by Daniel Ayala. Daniel Ayala gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Mangan. Free kick taken by Barry Nicholson.

19:11

The ball is crossed by Dean Howell.

18:33

Effort on goal by Andy Reid from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

17:57

Greg Halford takes a shot. Conor McLaughlin gets a block in.

16:11

Jamie McGuire fouled by Adlene Guedioura, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Nicholson restarts play with the free kick. Andy Mangan takes a shot from 25 yards. Adlene Guedioura gets a block in.

12:55

The assistant referee signals for offside against David Ball. Karl Darlow takes the indirect free kick.

11:27

Danny Collins concedes a free kick for a foul on David Ball. The ball is delivered by Barry Nicholson, Jon Parkin takes a shot. Comfortable save by Karl Darlow.

9:50

Jon Parkin challenges Daniel Ayala unfairly and gives away a free kick. Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

7:54

Dean Howell crosses the ball, clearance by Daniel Ayala.

6:42

Corner taken by Barry Nicholson from the right by-line, Greg Halford manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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