NottinghamForest had to work hard as they were tested by Premiership side Sunderland who beat them with a stunning strike, the only goal of the game.

The first half had much more the feel of a pre-season friendly and although Sunderland fielded a strong side they lacked the determination that the young Everton side had done the previous Friday.

Forest worked hard and looked promising in the early stages but as the half entered its final 15 minutes the experience of the Premiership side showed through.

The second half was riddled with substitutions but Sunderland's were more effective and they dominated enough of the play to eventually take the lead.

The away side continued to impress although the game became disjointed towards the end as they waited for the final whistle.

On another hot, muggy night Forest made a positive start and had an early chance when Robert Earnshaw won the ball as it came in from Luke Chambers. He knocked it back to James Reid whose effort went over the bar.

And the home side had another chance from a free kick but Earnshaw sent the ball just over the bar from 25 yards out.

Chambers produced an excellent cross under pressure to the near post. Earnshaw was there ahead of Nyron Nosworthy and, in spite of his lack of height, won the ball but was just wide with his effort.

Guy Moussi carried on as he had against Everton, producing some lovely football and instinctively accurate passing.

It was the half hour mark before Paul Smith was brought into action. FormerForest player, captain Andy Reid's free kick from 25 yards out on the left found Danny Higginbottomon the post. He headed firmly towards goal and the Forest keeper did well to punch the ball clear.

Sunderland came close to getting on the scoresheet after a mistake by James Reid gave them the ball. Daryl Murphy picked up the ball and made the run towards goal but his shot took a deflection off Kelvin Wilson and ran just wide of the post.

Sunderland looked more impressive towards the end of the half and put the Forest defence under pressure and prevented Forest from getting forward.

Forest made two substitutions at half time with James Reid being replaced by Garath McCleary and Lewis McGugan making way for Borussia Dortmund player Sahr Senesie, who is currently having a trial with the club.

Sunderland put more pressure on early in the second half when El-Hadji Diouf put a shot in towards the top corner but Smith pushed the ball out for a corner.

Sunderland then made a mass substitution, replacing six players just before the hour mark, among them former Forest goalkeeper Darren Ward.

And he was almost on the receiving end of a powerful shot by Moussi which went thundering towards goal from over 25 yards out. Luckily for the Sunderland keeper the ball took a slight deflection and went just inches wide.

Sunderland continued to dominate as they played much more flowing football and they increased the pace of the game following the substitutions.

The Forest goal was under pressure again when substitute Anthony Stokes put the ball in towards another substitute Michael Chopra, but he lost his footing and Smith dived on it.

Sunderland took the lead when Stokes cross came in to Kieran Richardson whose terrific strike gave Smith no chance at all.

Forest came close to an equalizer after some good build-up play. Matt Thornhill fed the ball to Earnshaw who got through into the box and it fell for McCleary but his effort went just wide of the target.

And they almost fashioned another opportunity when Emile Sinclair robbed Ward of possession after a poor ball from Higginbotham but the ball was put out for a corner.

Sunderland went down to ten men with seven minutes to go after they took Higginbotham off in spite of having no substitutes left.

Forest struggled in the final stages as the away side just played the game out to its conclusion.

Fortunately, the referee decided against allowing 30 seconds for each of the numerous substitutions and played just two minutes.