Opening day victory at Charlton
On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1987 Forest start the First Division season with an opening-day win at Charlton Athletic.
Nottingham Forest began the 1987-88 First Division season with a 2-1 away win against Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park.
The afternoon did not start smoothly. Charlton went ahead through an early penalty, leaving Brian Clough’s side with work to do on the opening day.
Forest responded after half-time. Lee Glover brought them level in the 59th minute before Nigel Clough scored the winner eight minutes later, turning a difficult away start into a positive first result of the season.
The comeback gave Forest a useful early marker in what became one of their stronger late-1980s league campaigns. They would go on to finish third in the First Division, playing with the sharpness and attacking quality that made Clough’s side so admired during that period.
Opening-day wins do not always define a season, but this one fitted what followed. Forest had fallen behind away from home, found a response, and left London with the kind of result that hinted at the team’s resilience and quality.
Sources
11v11; The City Ground
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