Nottingham secured a 4:2 victory over Angers in a club friendly on Saturday, with the hosts putting their attacking intent on display at home. The result extended Nottingham's recent upbeat run, while Angers' defensive frailties were once again exposed in this encounter. To be fair, both teams arrived with mixed fortunes from their previous outings.
Nottingham have found themselves involved in some high-scoring affairs lately, with results including a 4:4 draw against Manchester and a 4:3 win over the same opposition earlier in April. They kept their side in it during those matches, even when the scores got out of hand. The home side came from the dead in several of those games, showing resilience when needed.
Angers' recent form tells a different story entirely. The French visitors lost 2:4 to Cardiff on their most recent outing and have been part of some entertaining but costly matches against Grenoble. They were reduced to watching their leads slip in those encounters, conceding heavily in several games. By then, the pattern was becoming clear for anyone watching.
What stands out here is not just the scoreline but what it suggests about both approaches. Nottingham camped in the final third and took their chances when they came. Angers, meanwhile, struggled to contain the home side's movement and paid for it. The draw brought them together early, but this result will give Nottingham confidence.
The five-goal margin means Nottingham can take something positive from this preparation, while Angers have work to do before the competitive season begins. It was a straightforward afternoon for the hosts who did not travel to make up the numbers. And here's the thing — friendlies like this often reveal more than the final score suggests.