Winger Joe Lolley has given an insight into how Steve Cooper has changed the mentality at Nottingham Forest as they gear up for a decisive few weeks.
The Reds were propping up the Championship table when the Welshman replaced Chris Hughton at the helm in September. Now, ahead of their final 10 league games, they are breathing down the necks of the play-off pack - sitting three points below sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers with at least one game in hand on most of their rivals.
They have lost just twice since the turn of the year, and the second of those defeats was to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday, when Forest pushed their Premier League opponents all the way to a result. Lolley feels they are in a good position for when the action resumes after the international break, both with Cooper at the helm and the players at his disposal.
Read more: What happened to players who left Forest last summer
Read more: Forest midfielder 'stood out' at former club's open training session
“There’s a lot of belief. To be fair, as soon as he came in, the manager changed the mentality of the players,” the 29-year-old said.
“It went from a place where… a manager that probably made you feel a bit inferior to opponents, to now we don’t fear anyone. That’s shown in the cup games, we don’t just turn up and see how the game goes, it’s, ‘right, let’s take the game to them, let’s cause them problems’. That’s how we attack every game.
“We have the mentality of trying to win every single game. That gives players belief, because you feel you are better than the opponent. That gives you strong confidence.”
The Reds have had to cope with the loss of key quartet Lewis Grabban, Steve Cook, Max Lowe and Scott McKenna to injury of late. But others have stepped up in their absence.
“We’ve got such a strong squad as well this year. We’ve picked up injuries to key players,” Lolley added. “But it doesn’t look like anything happens - other players come in, like Toby (Figueiredo).
“It’s just very consistent. That’s such a good trait to have, because you’re always going to have bad luck with injuries and suspensions.”
