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Behind the scenes of 'excited' Nottingham Forest camp
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says there is an “excitement” among his group of players as they prepare for Tuesday night’s showdown with Bournemouth.
The Reds make the trip for the rearranged clash at the Vitality Stadium (7pm kick-off) knowing anything other than victory for the hosts will take the race for automatic promotion down to the final game. Three points for the Cherries, on the other hand, would secure them second spot.
Forest, though, have thrived on the big occasions plenty of times already this season amid their charge up the Championship table. And on the back of Saturday’s 5-1 rout over Swansea City, Cooper says the squad are itching to get going on the south coast.
READ MORE: Steve Cooper gives glimpse inside 'excited' Nottingham Forest camp ahead of Bournemouth showdown
“I see a real good focus. I see a real good engagement. I see a real calm, but excited feeling among the guys,” he said.
Man United man sends cheeky message to Sam Surridge
Saturday was a day to remember for Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge - and James Garner ensured that his teammate will never forget the role he played in his match-winning hat-trick.
Surridge scored three goals against his old side Swansea City at the City Ground as the Reds ran out 5-1 winners in an emphatic victory. It was his first career hat-trick, too.
Garner, on loan from Premier League outfit Manchester United, set up two of his three goals on the day. The first came from a corner that Surridge headed home.
The midfielder then played Surridge through for his second, which was brilliantly struck into the top right-hand corner. It will certainly go down as one of the finest finishes of the season. The forward then capitalised on a loose ball after a shot had hit the woodwork for his third.
While most players simply left their signature on the match ball that Surridge would be taking home, the Forest goalscorer's Instagram story revealed that Garner left a cheeky reminder of the contribution he made to 23-year-old's best day as a player.
Scott Parker makes 'opportunity' claim
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker has highlighted the huge "opportunity" his side have when they host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday (7pm kick-off) in a pivotal game in the Championship promotion race.
Forest make the trip south for a second time after the initial fixture was controversially postponed due to poor weather in February. Now, the rearranged fixture pits two teams in the middle of a dog-fight with automatic promotion to the Premier League at stake.
Promotion is currently in Bournemouth's hands. If the two sides share the points in midweek, they head into the final day knowing they just need to match Forest's result against Hull City in order to be promoted. Should Bournemouth fail to take a point, advantage falls in favour of Forest. Either way, both teams are assured of at least a play-off place.
"We have the opportunity. A win gets us promoted," Parker told Dorset Live. "What we have done throughout this season has been very process-driven and very clear-minded about what we need to do and how we need to go about things."
