Forest curse their luck

Roberto Di Matteo got his first Championship win as West Brom manager with a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest courtesy of an own goal from unfortunate defender Chris Cohen and a missed penalty by home substitute Robert Earnshaw at the City Ground. The Italian, who left MK Dons to replace Tony Mowbray at the Black Country club this summer, watched his side worked hard by Billy Davies' men who will rightly feel aggrieved not to have taken anything from a game they dominated for long periods. West Brom's 52nd-minute winner was cruel on Forest. 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 Cohen on the leg and rolling beyond stranded goalkeeper Lee Camp. Forest were presented with the chance to restore parity with 15 minutes remaining. A surging run towards goal by Earnshaw, a 66th-minute replacement for Paul Anderson, was abruptly halted inside the area by Shelton Martis. The Wales international took the spot-kick himself but, after a stuttering run-up, dragged it past the left-hand post as Scott Carson dived the opposite way. Forest continued to probe and Adebola put a glorious chance over after Carson had spilled the ball. Carson then produced a superb save to pluck a header from substitute Dexter Blackstock out of the top corner after 74 minutes.