Nottingham Forest 0-1 Swansea City: Roberts header secures Swans win

Swansea City climbed to fourth in the Championship as Connor Roberts' towering header gave them victory at Nottingham Forest.

Wales defender Roberts rose high to put his team in front just before half-time and Forest could not find a response.

They were beaten at the City Ground for the first time under Chris Hughton, who had taken eight points from his four previous home games, and remain 21st in the table.

Hughton's men asked questions at times but were kept at bay by Swansea who, having conceded only eight Championship goals in 2020-21, have the best defensive record in English football's top four divisions.

They have lost only two of their 14 league games since defeat in last season's play-offs and continue to look like a team capable of mounting another promotion push.

Forest began the contest with purpose, Sammy Ameobi making an early burst down the left before centring for Lyle Taylor, whose shot rolled across the face of goal.

Hughton has made Forest hard to beat on their own patch, and they were putting pressure on Swansea's defence for much of the first half.

The hosts ought to have gone ahead on 39 minutes, when Anthony Knockaert cut in from the right flank on to his stronger left foot, only to drill a shot straight at Freddie Woodman, who kicked the ball clear.

Let off the hook, Swansea made Forest pay thanks to Roberts' prodigious leap.

Andre Ayew lofted a hopeful ball into the penalty area which Forest centre-back Scott McKenna flicked towards the back post, where wing-back Roberts rose high above the 6ft 4in Ameobi to place a header beyond Brice Samba and put his team ahead.

There was almost no celebration from Roberts, whose reward for scoring for the first time this season was a bang in the face which prompted a lengthy spell of treatment.

Swansea threatened to double their lead early in the second period, with Ayew flashing one acrobatic volley wide before a second effort was blocked.

Forest attacked again, with the home bench appealing - unconvincingly it must be said - for a penalty as Taylor failed to connect with a volley under pressure from Ryan Bennett.

Knockaert dragged a half-volley wide before Taylor headed well over the bar, meaning Swansea and Roberts could finally celebrate his decisive goal.

Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton:

"I certainly don't think we should have lost that game on the balance of play but credit to Swansea because they managed the game very well after the goal and they defended very well when they had to.

"It's a similar story for us where we've had good periods of possession in the final third but we have to be able to capitalise on those periods and we're not doing that at the moment.

"Against a good team like Swansea you're not going to get many clear-cut chances and that's why I'm disappointed that we didn't take the ones that came along for us.

"After a decent first seven games for myself, we've now gone into a really disappointing three-game period and what we have to do is get ourselves out of this period as quickly as possible and that has to start on Wednesday."

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:

"I thought we were good for it. Forest are a good team. Apart from the teams that have come down from the Premier League, I think this is probably the strongest on paper - in experience and resource. You have to respect that.

"We did that but we also came here to win. All our motivation was around that, so to go and deliver a performance like that was really good.

"I would have like to score two or maybe three, but when that didn't happen you naturally give up a bit of territory and have to do a bit of defending.

"Freddie made an excellent save in the first half but apart from that I don't think he was really threatened."

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