After a hectic run of fixtures, Nottingham Forest have been able to make the most of a full week on the training ground ahead of today’s clash with Bournemouth.
The Reds head to the south coast in a buoyant mood, having registered back-to-back wins in the Premier League and climbed to 13th in the table. The Steve Cooper fist-pumps were out in full force following last weekend’s big victory over Leicester City.
And the positive news continued in the week, with midfielder Danilo and striker Chris Wood putting pen to paper as Forest continued their January transfer business. As Cooper’s side get set for another crucial game, here’s our round-up of the latest goings-on Trentside.
READ MORE: Forest injury state of play ahead of Bournemouth clash
READ MORE: Explained: When Wood could make Forest debut after completing transfer
Battle at the bottom
Brennan Johnson’s brace against the Foxes lifted the Reds five points clear of the relegation zone. They continue to make great strides, having been propping up the division not so long ago.
But it is still incredibly tight at the bottom end of the table. Below Forest, the bottom seven clubs are separated by just two points. It is only the third time in Premier League history that so many teams are so close together at the midway point of the season. The Premier League website points out that such a narrow gap has only even happened before in February 2009 and January 2011.
With that in mind, Cooper’s men have some important games coming up. Four of their next six league matches are against teams currently below them in the table - Bournemouth, Leeds United, West Ham United and Everton.
Forest have made much progress since the last time they faced the Cherries, when they saw a 2-0 lead turn into a 3-2 defeat at the City Ground. They look a different team now, but there is still no room for complacency at the Vitality Stadium.
When he was asked whether he could envisage his side collapsing in quite the same way as in the teams’ last meeting, Cooper was quick to quip: “I hope not! But with the games we’ve won this year - particularly in the Premier League - what we have to understand is what it has taken to win.
“So many things go into that, from preparation to belief, mentality, technique, decisions. We can’t take any of that for granted and we have to be obsessed with improving on it going forward.”
Lingard love
Jesse Lingard has always been a popular character in the Forest dressing room since signing in the summer. And it is easy to see why.
While sidelined with injury, he has continued to get right behind his teammates - being an animated figure while watching on from the sidelines at the City Ground as and being at the heart of celebrations after the final whistle. Even when not playing, he has been a key presence in the dressing room.
He was on hand to welcome new signing Danilo this week, cheering him on as he completed some sprints as part of his assessment. “Ready for the Prem,” Lingard grinned, before giving the new man a hug.
Worth a listen
Speaking of Lingard, his appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast is worth looking up. The former Manchester United man speaks openly about a number of topics - just as he did on his recent TV documentary - and has warm words for Cooper and Forest.
Cooper himself is planning to have a listen. It turns out the Welshman is a fan of that particular podcast.
“I listen to it, because it's a good learning one, like the High Performance one is with Jake Humphrey,” he said. “I like to do self-learning. It's an easy one because you can stick it on in the car and you're not wasting time just driving.
"I haven't heard his (Lingard’s) yet, because I know it has just come out. But I will.
"We're really proud of him that he can talk openly about some of the challenges he's gone through. It's not easy to do that, so that needs recognising.”
Bans avoided
The game against Leicester City was significant for a few reasons, not least the three points Forest claimed at the end of it. It was also the Reds’ 19th match of the Premier League campaign - a marker when it comes to yellow cards.
Players earn a one-match suspension if they pick up five bookings in their team’s first 19 league games. Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Ryan Yates were all on four going into the clash with the Foxes, as was unused substitute Steve Cook.
On the day, Johnson was the only one cautioned among the home team - for taking off his shirt in celebration of scoring - so any suspensions were avoided. Following this particular cut-off, the next marker for earning a ban is 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including the team’s 32nd fixture. Any player who notches up that total is hit with a two-match suspension.
Mixed results
There will be no repeat of last year’s run to the FA Youth Cup final for the Reds’ Under-18s. They were knocked out in the fourth round by Ipswich Town this week.
The tie at Portman Road finished 1-1 after extra-time, with Esapa Osong scoring for the visitors as they came from behind. The teams could not be separated by the additional 30 minutes, and that meant a penalty shootout.
The Tractor Boys triumphed 4-2 on spot-kicks. Josh Powell and Kyle McAdam netted for the Reds, while Osong and Archie Whitehall could not convert.
Meanwhile, goals were not in short supply for Forest Women last weekend. They notched a record win with a 12-1 thumping of AFC Fylde.
An own goal set them on their way, before Yasmin Mosby hit a hat-trick, Becky Anderson, Charlotte Steggles and Amy West claimed braces, and Sophie Domingo and Gianna Mitchell also got on the scoresheet. It is the Reds’ biggest ever league win.
How should Forest line up against Bournemouth? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
