NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 BRADFORD CITY 1

DEREK Adams had warned that it wasn't a level playing field – and a player worth £12.5 million rammed home the point at the City Ground.

Hopes of causing a Carabao Cup first-round upset on the banks of the Trent were ultimately sunk by two moments of Championship quality.

Both Nottingham Forest goals were set up by Watford loanee Philip Zinckernagel and finished by midfielder Joao Carvalho on his first home game since spending a year in Spain.

They came soon after City had lost a groggy Levi Sutton from the action – and a long night suddenly beckoned.

But a sublime free-kick from Callum Cooke revived the visitors who had the better of the second half before bowing out with reputation intact. City had given a very good account of themselves.

Adams had sent out a strong line-up showing just one change from Saturday for the club’s first visit to the City Ground since 2009 - when Stuart McCall’s men were beaten 3-0 at the same stage of the competition.

It was a big night for Finn Cousin-Dawson, replacing the injured Oscar Thelkeld at right back, with Adams delivering a thinly-veiled warning that the squad’s youngsters will not be handled with kid gloves this season.

Otherwise it was as you were after Exeter, even down to an identical bench. It made a refreshing change from resting established players in the early rounds.

Forest, on the other hand, went with a youthful line-up that included an entire back four making their senior debuts. There was also a first appearance in goal for American international Ethan Horvath, whose time at FC Brugge included Champions’ League clean sheets against Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid.

City’s pre-match optimism had not been shared by the bookies who priced them as a lengthy 5/1 outsider to bridge the two-division gap.

But the underdogs began very brightly with Andy Cook, Alex Gilliead and Callum Cooke all chancing their arm in the opening exchanges.

Riley Harbottle volleyed wide from the game’s first corner and Cafu was also off target after a sloppy clearance by Liam Ridehalgh.

As Forest grew into the game, Zinckernagel had an effort inside the box smothered by City’s centre halves.

But City were proving a good match. Gilliead and Niall Canavan both nodded wide from corners and Lee Angol created the first genuine moment of excitement, cleanly controlling Ridehalgh’s pass and firing on the turn – Horvath palming away with both hands.

Levi Sutton, who had suffered a painful clash of heads early on, went off looking woozy just after the half hour.

And City were soon seeing stars as Forest delivered a quick one-two to seize control.

They broke the deadlock on 39 minutes as Zinckernagel ran on to Finn Back’s pass and picked out Carvalho to tap home.

Two minutes later, the same combination struck again to put City in deeper trouble as Carvalho fired across Richard O’Donnell and inside the far post.

They were two quality-worked goals that oozed Championship class.

City were on the ropes – but should have landed an immediate counter when Gilliead’s knockdown fell to Abo Eisa eight yards out. The sub, who had come on for Sutton, squirted his shot wide.

There was another big chance to open the second half. Gilliead played in Angol who was denied one-on-one by Horvath – to a chant of “USA, USA”.

But the Bantams had a spring back in their step and pulled one back with a brilliant free-kick from Cooke on 54 minutes. Gilliead was floored just outside the box and Cooke bent his set-piece round the wall and past Horvath’s despairing left hand.

It was a superb way for City to get off the mark for the season and set up a rousing finale.

A flurry of injuries further rattled Forest with two players forced off and another couple needing lengthy treatment.

O’Donnell spread himself well to deny Carvalho a hat-trick. Eisa curled one over and Canavan guided a header from a corner straight at Horvath.

But, even with nine added minutes for all the stoppages, the pressure could not force an equaliser.

FOREST: Horvath 7, Back 7, Fernandes 7 (Yates 69min), Harbottle 6 (Figueiredo 67min), Richardson 6, Fornah 6, Cafu 7, Zinckernagel 8 (Da Costa 51min, 6), Carvalho 8, Konate 6, Mighten 7. Subs (not used): Smith, Gabriel, Lolley, Johnson.

CITY: O’Donnell 7, Cousin-Dawson 6, O’Connor 7, Canavan 7, Ridehalgh 6, Sutton 6 (Eisa 34min, 6), Watt 7, Gilliead 7 (Crankshaw 83min), Cooke 8, Angol 7, Cook 6 (Vernam 83min). Subs (not used): Evans, Kelleher, Foulds, Hornby.

CITY MAN OF MATCH: Callum Cooke.