Nottingham Forest were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth in their Premier League season opener at the City Ground. Despite taking an early lead through Chris Wood, Forest couldn’t hold on, as Antoine Semenyo struck late to earn a point for the visitors.
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Match Overview
The game began with a sense of anticipation as Nottingham Forest looked to start their Premier League campaign on a positive note. However, their plans were quickly disrupted when Danilo suffered a potentially serious injury just eight minutes in, requiring extensive treatment before being carried off on a stretcher. This early blow meant Forest had to reshuffle their lineup, with Ryan Yates coming on as a substitute.
Despite the setback, Forest found the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. Yates, making an immediate impact, unleashed a low shot that Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto could only parry into the path of Chris Wood. The striker was quick to capitalize, firing home from close range to give Forest a 1-0 lead.
Forest continued to press, with Anthony Elanga coming close to doubling the lead with a curling effort from outside the box, only to be denied by a sharp save from Neto. Bournemouth thought they had equalized through Dango Ouattara, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Second Half Resilience
The second half saw Forest maintain their dominance, with Willy Boly nearly adding a second goal from a corner, only for Neto to make a solid stop. However, as the match progressed, Bournemouth began to grow into the game, pressing for an equalizer.
Their persistence paid off in the 86th minute when Harry Toffolo’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Murillo and fell kindly for Antoine Semenyo. The forward, stepping up as a central striker in the absence of Dominic Solanke, made no mistake from six yards out, slotting the ball past Matz Sels to level the score.
Bournemouth nearly snatched a late winner, but Murillo redeemed himself with a crucial clearance to deny substitute Daniel Jebbison, ensuring the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Forest’s Encouraging Performance
Despite the late setback, Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo can take positives from his team’s performance. The familiarity of the starting lineup allowed Forest to play with fluency and confidence, particularly in possession. Their pressing game also troubled Bournemouth, forcing errors and creating opportunities.
Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi were lively on the flanks, both coming close to extending Forest’s lead with powerful low shots that required smart saves from Neto. The team’s overall performance will provide encouragement, though the injury to Danilo is a cause for concern as they prepare for their next fixture.
Bournemouth’s Life After Solanke
Bournemouth, adjusting to life without star striker Dominic Solanke following his move to Tottenham Hotspur, found a new hero in Antoine Semenyo. The forward was a constant threat throughout the match and eventually earned his side a valuable point with his late equalizer.
Although Bournemouth struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, they improved as the game wore on. Semenyo’s goal was a testament to his perseverance and ability to step up in Solanke’s absence. With the imminent arrival of Evanilson from Porto, the Cherries’ attack is set to be bolstered further, giving fans hope for the season ahead.
Manager Reactions
Nuno Espirito Santo reflected on the missed opportunity: “I’m disappointed with how we conceded; we had the game under control. It was a tough game, a good game, both teams had momentum. We could have had more.”
Andoni Iraola expressed relief at securing a point: “I am probably pleased because you score at the end, and you feel like you recovered one point. At the end, we level the game. We probably had more chances, but from set-pieces, they are difficult. I think, in the end, it is fair.”
Match Statistics
- Possession: Nottingham Forest 52.9% | Bournemouth 47.1%
- Shots on Target: Nottingham Forest 8 | Bournemouth 4
- Total Shots: Nottingham Forest 14 | Bournemouth 13
- Passes: Nottingham Forest 503 | Bournemouth 432
- Clearances: Nottingham Forest 25 | Bournemouth 29
- Corners: Nottingham Forest 2 | Bournemouth 6
- Fouls Conceded: Nottingham Forest 17 | Bournemouth 8
- Yellow Cards: Nottingham Forest 1 | Bournemouth 3
English Premier League Points Table
Check the below mentioned for English Premier League points table from the below mentioned table.
| English Premier League Points Table 2024-2025 | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Manchester United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Newcastle United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brentford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Ham United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Fulham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Southampton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Everton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Looking Ahead
Nottingham Forest will be looking to build on this performance when they travel to newly promoted Southampton next week, aiming to secure their first win of the season. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will prepare for their first home game of the season against Newcastle United, with hopes of continuing their positive start under Andoni Iraola.
