This defeat places Matt Lawlor’s team at the bottom of Group F in the Premier League Cup, with Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United drawing their opening game one-all. The Under-21s’ next league match is against Sheffield United on Tuesday 19 September at 2pm.Donaghy (GK), Wright, Edwards, Wilson, Johnson (C), Williams (Lane 80′), Morrison, Fishburn, White (Hughes 46′), Brown (Namputu 75′), Hoyle are the Town XI.
Subs not used: Cragg (GK), McLean
Konate didn’t top there, as he scored his second six minutes later, completing his first-half hat trick as goalkeeper Aaron Bott launched a rapid assault with a long pass, which the number 11 seized on and extended his side’s advantage.
Forest were granted a penalty in the 39th minute, which Manni Norkett converted home for their third goal of the game, leaving the Under-21s with a lot of work to do in the second half.
Town started the second half much better, with Pharrell Brown causing havoc for the Nottingham back line, but a goal didn’t arrive until extra time, when replacement Kayden Hughes leapt to score.
Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad were defeated 3-1 by Nottingham Forest in their Premier League Cup opener on Friday evening at Victory Park.
It was a tense first 25 minutes of the fight as neither side wanted to give away too much space in a game that started equally, with both teams able to generate some half-chances in the opening stages.
But Forest broke through just before the half-hour mark, capitalizing on sloppy midfield play, and it was striker Ateef Konate who put the ball past Tom Donaghy to make it 1-0 in Chorley.
; Under-21s lose in their first cup match against Forest
Town won their first game of the season against Tranmere Fleetwood. Town began their EFL Trophy campaign with a 2-0 victory over League Two Tranmere Rovers.
Two second-half goals from Jayden Stockley and Phoenix Patterson sent the Cod Army to the top of Northern Group D.
Town dominated the first 20 minutes with several well-executed phases of play. First, Josh Vela blasted a cross from Junior Quitirna towards goal, but his effort was saved from close range before a fluid team play saw new addition Kabongo Tshimanga beat his man to the end of a cross, but he could only turn the ball just wide of the post.
After a harsh tackle on Montgomery by Tranmere’s Dan Pike, Town’s Finley Armstrong came in for Adam Montgomery on 35 minutes.
After latching onto Mayor’s pass, Tshimanga fired a close-range attempt against the outside of the post. The attacker kept threatening, going near again from another cross – this time thwarted by a brilliant save from McGee.
Interim manager Matt Lawlor’s team continued where they left off, with midfielder Mayor striking a lovely attempt from the outside of the 18-yard box that was superbly parried wide by McGee. Prior to it, Toto Nsiala’s last-ditch sliding stop prevented Sam Taylor from opening the scoring at the
Signings on the deadline day With half an hour remaining to play, Xaiver Simons and Tshimanga both exited the field as the Cod Army inserted Ryan Broom and Jayden Stockley.
Town continued to exploit space out wide, exchanging fast passes before a powerful cross from Rooney fell perfectly on the outside of the box for midfielder Mayor, who cannoned an effort towards goal, prompting a wonder-save from McGee to deny Fleetwood the lead.
However, Fleetwood’s persistence paid off in the 70th minute when they were granted a penalty. Quitirna used his quick feet to avoid a number of tackles before setting up Jayden Stockley for a goal. Tranmere defender Pike then hauled down the striker, earning him a red card.
Stockley took the penalty and calmly executed it, sending the goalie the wrong way.
Less than 10 minutes later, Phoenix Patterson collected Ryan Graydon’s half-cleared pass on the outside of the box and stroked the ball into the bottom corner beyond Tranmere keeper McGee to secure all three points.
Mayor, Quitirna (Patterson 75′), Simons (Broom 63′), Holgate, Graydon, Nsiala (Teale 75′), Rooney. Town XI: Lynch (GK), Montgomery (Armstrong 35′), Tshimanga (Stockley 63′), Vela (C), Rooney.
Harrington (GK) and Hayes were not substituted.
McGee (GK), Walker, Turnbull, Hendry, Merrie, Jennings (C), Taylor (Jolley 75′), Lewis (McAlear 9′), Pike, Apter (Hawkes 75′), Norris (Morris 42′).
Murphy (GK), Dennis, and Hughes were not substituted.
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