Source: Team_Talk
Di Matteo dismisses 'lucky' claims
The Championship promotion favourites staged something of a smash and grab at the City Ground, returning to the Black Country with all three points courtesy of Wes Morgan's unfortunate own goal.
After Chris Brunt had struck a post with a free-kick in the fourth minute, West Brom were on the back foot for the rest of the game as Forest peppered Scott Carson's goal with wave after wave of attack.
Dele Adebola missed two glorious chances and had a goal disallowed before Carson produced a superb save to keep out Dexter Blackstock's header.
Robert Earnshaw then let Albion off the hook again by firing his 75th-minute penalty wide after he had been brought down in the area by Shelton Martis.
But, when asked if he thought West Brom had been fortunate, Di Matteo said: "One-nil, three points.
"I think the only bit of luck was with the missed penalty. Apart from that I thought we did really well.
"Considering we were playing away against a very good Forest team, we are coming away with a clean sheet and we are coming away with three points.
"I would have liked to kill the game off, we had one or two chances to do that and maybe could've done a bit better, but we defended really well.
"Improving our defending is a process. It's going to take a little while. It won't be a week or two weeks or a game, it's a slow process over the season and it's good to get off to a good start.
"We've worked on the defence. It was one of the points from last year where we struggled.
"You expect them to create a chance or two but all in all I look at the whole game and I think we controlled them quite well and took our chance to win the game."
Forest boss Billy Davies felt luck was not with his side but was encouraged by the performance.
West Brom's 52nd-minute winner was cruel on the Reds. Jonathan Greening's cross from the left side looked like it would be turned home by Luke Moore but the Albion striker completely mis-timed his header and the ball went beyond him, striking the hapless Morgan on the leg and rolling beyond stranded keeper Lee Camp.
Davies said: "It was just one of those days. There are plenty of positives to take from the game. I'm disappointed to lose, but when luck goes against you what can you do?
"If we play like that in the future I'm sure that nine times out of 10 we'll win by many goals.
"I'm very proud of the performance and I am pleased with the performance. Attitude was first class. Organisation was excellent. Look at the pressure we created and look at the fitness of our players.
"I think they had one shot at goal that hit the post from a free-kick and they've scored a lucky goal.
"We've had a very good goal disallowed having watched the replay because there was no infringement. We've created chance after chance and we've put a very good team and a very big club to the sword.
"I'm sure they'll be leaving here thanking their lucky stars for three points.
"All that against a side that's played a long time together and, don't forget, with a makeshift back four because we are losing an awful lot taking Cohen from the middle of the park and putting him at full-back."
