Carabao Cup: Nottingham Forest 2 Shrewsbury 1

Shrewsbury’s hopes at Carabao League Cup progression were ended as Nottingham Forest narrowly secured first round progression at The City Ground.

Town were behind at the break after Mustapha Carayol edged Forest ahead from the spot before Jason Cummings made it two with not long remaining.

Shaun Whalley’s spot-kick kept blue and amber hopes alive but Town were unable to muster another late rally in the rain.

Hundreds of Town supporters packed in under cover to witness their side’s first-ever modern era clash against Forest, leaving Tottenham as the only club not to face Shrewsbury.

Hurst, who hinted he was keen to do well in the competition, made just three changes from the side who enjoyed victory in their League One opener.

Niall Ennis made the first competitive start of his career, while Ebou Adams - who hasn’t tasted first-team football at Norwich - was also included.

Arthur Gnahoua, making three steps up from Kidderminster Harriers this summer, was given his first start by Hurst.

There was no sign of either Carlton or Bryn Morris on the bench. While Louis Dodds and Zak Jules were made to wait for their first starts of the campaign.

Forest meanwhile, made the full 11 changes for the clash, while boss Mark Warburton had promised he would go strong in a hope to avoid similar upsets to those in recent years against Walsall and Macclesfield.

Torrential rain meant for a slick surface and the home side adjusted slightly the better, with Apostolos Vellios crashing an angled drive over Dean Henderson’s goal.

Ennis started brightly at intercepted a lose Forest defensive pass before bursting into the box. The on-loan Wolves man resisted a chance to shoot, cutting inside on his left foot before losing his footing.

It didn’t take the home crowd long to grow a little restless with some loose passing from their side but forward Jason Cummings soon perked them up with a dipping 30-yard effort that clipped the top of Town’s crossbar.

Shrewsbury were enjoying their best spell and threatening with set-pieces moments before the home side edged ahead.

A Gnahoua corner was cleared and Forest broke as Carayol powered down the left flank. The midfield man was brought down by his counterpart Abu Ogogo after checking inside and official John Busby pointed to the spot.

Carayol calmly rolled it to Henderson’s left with the goalkeeper diving the other way.

The rain made for particularly difficult conditions, with numerous players losing their footing and the slick surface difficult to trap a ball. Eric Lichaj felt the full force the hosts, sliding off near the byline into a huge puddle.

Toto Nsiala was enjoying the conditions considerably more, he charged about the place, sliding into challenges and taking the ball cleanly.

Forest adapted to the conditions better than their visitors and looked more comfortable in possession, but Hurst’s side weren’t shy and turning the ball over and breaking forward, despite having nothing to show from the first period.

Attacking their own contingent in the second period Town were snappier winning the ball from their hosts, who struggled to string two passes together.

Shrewsbury, however, were fluent up until the final delivery, which often evaded lone forward Ennis.

Shaun Whalley was sent on to add some zip to Town’s attack, but he couldn’t quite adjust his feet as Jon Nolan cleverly found him charging into the box.

The rampant away section were howling for a penalty as Whalley was sent tumbling under Forest pressure after being released by Nolan but their claims were waved away.

Forest sub Tendayi Darikwa almost made it safe lashes inches wide after great blocks from Nsiala and Junior Brown.

Progression was seemingly made safe 15 minutes from the end as Cummings burst onto a fine Carayol through pass to power beyond Henderson at the near post - despite Henderson getting a hand to the effort.

Shrewsbury had other ideas. Whalley was lively to a poor Evitmov clearance and played Ennis in the box, who went down under pressure from Andreas Bouchalakis.

Whalley smashed the penalty down the middle and in off Evitmov to set up a lively finale.

Forest used their experience to look after the ball smartly as the minutes ebbed away. Henderson keeping Town in with a shout late on getting down quickly to deny Cummings.

Extra time hopes were dashed as Evtimov saved superbly from Rodman’s late 94th minute header.

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Brown; Ogogo ©, Adams (Dodds, 80), Nolan; Gnahoua (Whalley, 66), Rodman, Ennis (John-Lewis, 80)

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Jules, James, Shelis

Nottingham Forest (4-1-3-2):

Evtimov; Lichaj, Mills, Hobbs, Fox (Darikwa, 63); Bouchalakis; Cohen ©, Carayol, Dowell (Osborn, 63); Cummings, Vellios (Walker, 85)

Subs not used: Smith (gk), McKay, Brereton. Worrall

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 7,546