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Arvin Appiah inspired Notthingham Forest to a dominant 3-0 win against ten-man Sheffield Wednesday Under-23s at the City Ground.

Only one place separated the teams in the Professional Development League table going into the game, but Forest were in total control from virtually the first whistle to last.

Every outfield player in a youthful side was comfortable on the ball, central defenders included, but in England youth international Appiah, the Reds had a man - and he played like a man - a class apart.

The right winger terrorised his full back to win a spot kick for the first goal, scoring himself, before bending in a brilliant second three minutes after the restart.

Ryan Yates is also deserving of an honourable mention after looking strong in midfield as he lined up against Wednesday's experienced campaigner, 34-year-old David Jones.

Substitute Kieran Hayes got the third goal with 10 minutes to go to make the score a more realistic reflection of the action.

Forest totally bossed the first half and deservedly led through Appiah's 31st minute penalty after he had been fouled.

The visitors were down to 10 men five minutes later when Connor O'Grady was sent off for tripping Alex Mighten as he raced away from him towards goal.

Both the penalty and the red card were easy decisions for the referee and drew few complaints from Wednesday.

Forest had dominated the opening stages with little to show for their efforts until the first goal went in.

Jake Taylor was the first man to test Cameron McCulloch in the Wednesday goal with a 25 yard free-kick which was easily gathered on the bounce.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

Appiah wasted another free-kick but was already giving left-back Warren Clarke a tough time. The England Under-18 international once again beat his man in the box, this time going down after being tripped by a dangling leg.

He stepped up and planted the ball to the keeper's right to make it 1-0. Jimmy Gilligan's men were in total control soon after when Mighten got away from O'Grady and was tripped outside the box. As the last man he was always going to be off.

Forest were convinced they should have been two up within a minute of the restart when Brennan Johnson's shot was cleared. Johnson was sure the ball had already crossed the line.

The follow up then hit Ben Hughes on the line again, with a strong suspicion the defender cleared with his hand turned down.

It mattered not in the 48th minute when Appiah again beat Clarke and then Joost Van Aken in the box. This time he bent a brilliant left footed shot across McCulloch and inside the far post to make it 2-0.

Mighten was trying to match Appiah with a couple of driving runs of his own. He was able to use his searing pace to make space, but saw more than one shot blocked.

The home side did not create too many other chances until getting the third goal. They did not need to. Instead, Wednesday were starved of possession, with keeper Jordan Smith having to make just one comfortable save all night.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

The third goal was a shambles from a defensive point of view. McCulloch should have gathered Dan Preston's low cross, but he fumbled it and Hayes was there to put it over the line ahead of a dallying defender.

Forest: Smith, Richardson, Lawrence-Gabriel, Ahmedhodzic, D Preston; Appiah, Yates, Taylor (Gallacher 81), Meighton (Megaritis 67); Johnson; En-Neyah (Hayes 63); Subs not used: Bossin, Stewart

Wednesday (starting XI): McCulloch, Hughes, Clarke, Jones, O'Grady, Van Aken, Stobbs, Kirby, Borukov, Hunt, F Preston