DAVID PLATT'S managerial debut in England ended in emphatic defeat as Nottingham Forest discovered just how tough it will be to regain their Premiership place. Instead it was Ipswich, third in Division One last year, who looked to have the better pedigree as they dominated with an assured display of controlled and often elegant football.

Ipswich, with new faces John McGreal and Jermaine Wright, began yet another campaign in Division One having failed to get through the promotion play-offs for the third year in a row.

It was Wright who opened up the Forest defence early on but David Johnson's deft touch rebounded off a post and Richard Naylor's follow-up was smothered by Mark Crossley. But Naylor was more decisive with a header from a Mark Venus free-kick giving Ipswich the lead.

A second goal in the space of two minutes showed why Forest dropped from the Premiership and why Ipswich should have replaced them. This time Naylor turned provider, his cushioned header allowing Johnson to unleash a left-foot thunderbolt.

Platt used half-time to introduce striker Marlon Harewood, and then saw Gianluca Petrachi's ambitious lob turned over by Richard Wright. Despite increased possession Forest remained unable to break Ipswich's composure and then conceded a third goal. A one-touch interchange between James Scowcroft and Johnson ended with the former finishing decisively.

Forest got on the scoresheet when Manuel Thetis brought down Harewood and Chris Bart-Williams converted the penalty but it was scant consolation and did nothing to dent Ipswich's statement of intent.

Daily Telegraph