Stoke City 2-3 Nottingham Forest: Player Ratings as rampant Reds hit the summit

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Nottingham Forest went top of the Championship following a 3-2 win against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

Lee Gregory opened the scoring for the struggling hosts inside the first 10 minutes. Joe Lolley restored parity nine minutes before the interval.

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The second half saw Forest race out of the blocks and Sammy Ameobi and Lewis Grabban gave the Reds a two-goal cushion.

James McClean did pull one back for the Potters but Sabri Lamouchi’s men weren’t to be denied.

Following the game we analysed the players’ performances and marked them out of 10:

Brice Samba – 7

Did what he was asked to with relative ease. Does the simple stuff extremely well and instils confidence into his back four.

Matty Cash – 9

A tremendous performance from the academy graduate. He’s been asked to play right-back this season and has taken the position with aplomb. His cross for the second Forest goal was majestic.

Joe Worrall – 9

Another quality performance from the centre-back. Looks to be oozing confidence at the moment and is getting better with every game.

Michael Dawson – 6

Was only on the pitch for 34 minutes and Forest will hope that his calf injury isn’t long-term. Cautioned during his cameo on the pitch.

Jack Robinson – 7

Coped reasonably well with the tricky Tom Ince. Perhaps doesn’t offer the energy of Yuri Ribeiro, but is as honest as they come performance-wise.

Ben Watson – 8

Did look a little bit leggy off the ball but at 34-years-old but Forest fans will forgive him that. Was effortless on the ball and kept the Reds ticking. Also produced a series of blocks to thwart Stoke.

Samba Sow – 8

Whoever decided Forest should sign Samba Sow should be given the freedom of Nottingham. The ex-Dinamo Moscow man is a man-mountain of a player who is adapting well to life in England.

Joe Lolley – 8

Scored a decent goal and linked up well with Forest’s other attacking outlets. It’s nice that the Reds aren’t so heavily reliant on the ex-Huddersfield man this season.

Joao Carvalho – 7

Produced a lovely flick for Lewis Grabban in the first half, although this was perhaps a game too far for the little magician as he works his way back towards full fitness.

Sammy Ameobi – 8

A clumsy first-half followed by a quality goalscoring second period. Took his header emphatically and terrorised Stoke right-back, Tom Edwards.

Lewis Grabban – 8

The myth that Grabban is ‘lazy’ should be consigned to Room 101. The Forest talisman scored a poachers goal and never stopped running down lost causes.

Substitutes

Chema Rodriguez (Dawson, 34′) – 7

The Spanish central defender offered a nice balance alongside Worrall given that he is left-footed. Was solid in defence.

Tiago Silva (Carvalho, 60′) – 7

One of Silva’s better cameo performances. Showed an array of neat touches during his 30-minute stint on the pitch.

Albert Adomah (Lolley, 77) – 6

His experience saw the game through. Didn’t do anything to really write home about but his know-how to get Forest over the line was evident.