In their final game before the Europa League tie, ‘Well had an entertaining and evenly balanced workout with Billy Davies’ side.
Forest dominated the early stages and took the lead through Matt Derbyshire. But ‘Well controlled play in spells and had chances of their own before Bob McHugh grabbed a deserved equaliser seven minutes from time.
Until the usual flurry of substitutes in the final half hour, with Stephen McManus, Shaun Hutchison and Iain Vigurs all withdrawn as a precaution with the visit of Kuban in mind, ‘Well had a settled look about them.
It was the Championship side though which started strongly and Andy Reid brought out an excellent stop from Lee Hollis in the opening minutes and the visitors continued to dominate early on.
The deadlock was broken on 11 minutes when Derbyshire slid home from Dexter Blackstock’s cross.
Stuart McCall’s side reacted positively and Danny Collins was twice forced into important clearances – where on both occasions goal scoring opportunities looked likely.
Jamie Paterson really should have done better when he latched on to Adlene Guedioura’s slide-rule pass, however he blazed high over.
Motherwell responded at the other end with Iain Vigurs heading over Simon Ramsden’s cross.
Bob McHugh fired just wide of the target as the hosts created their best chance of the opening half hour.
John Sutton came agonisingly close to levelling proceedings on the stroke of half-time when he threw himself at Paul Lawson’s pin-point delivery.
‘Well suffered an early second half blow and perhaps a concern for next week when Stephen McManus limped off after 49 minutes replaced by Fraser Kerr.
The rearranged Well defence almost conceded a second goal on the hour mark. From six yards Guedioura looked to have swept home Chris Cohen’s cross but Lee Hollis produced a remarkable reflex save to push the ball behind.
Three minutes later McFadden and Vigurs came off allowing Carswell and Francis-Angol 27 minutes to impress.
Stevie Hammell’s cross gave Sutton half a chance but his downward header was easily held by the de Vries.
Motherwell then passed up their best chance when Sutton nodded the ball into the path of McHugh who thumped a left foot drive against the keeper’s legs.
With 15 minutes remaining Lee Irwin and Gunnar Neilsen replaced Lasley and Hollis before the last two subs Euan Murray and Craig Moore came off the bench.
In terms of goal action Forest came close to increasing their lead when Ishmael Miller dragged his shot across goal and just wide of the post.
But with seven minutes remaining ‘Well grabbed the equaliser. Francis-Angol swept down the left before picking out McHugh 10 yards in front of goal. The on form striker took a touch before hammering the ball high past de Vries to take his pre-season tally to three goals and give a satisfactory end to the evening.
Motherwell: Hollis (Nielsen, 75), Hammell, Ramsden, Hutchinson (Murray, 78), McManus (Kerr, 52), McFadden (Francis-Angol, 63), Lawson, Sutton (Moore, 80), Vigurs (Carswell, 63), Lasley (Erwin, 75), McHugh
