Your morning headlines from Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 1 May.
Cooper's tactics pay off
Steve Cooper’s game-plan paid off as Nottingham Forest thumped Swansea City 5-1 to keep up the pressure on second-placed Bournemouth.
But the Reds boss admitted he would like to have seen his side score more amid an electric atmosphere at the City Ground. They certainly had the chances to.
Sam Surridge netted a superb second-half hat-trick to see off the Swans after Michael Obafemi had cancelled out a Cyrus Christie own goal. And substitute Alex Mighten rounded off the win to cap an important three points for the hosts.
Automatic promotion remains a distinct possibility for Forest. They go into Tuesday night’s rearranged clash with the Cherries on the south coast just three points behind their opponents - and currently with a marginally better goal difference.
“It was a brilliant win. I’m very grateful to the players for how they stuck to the game-plan,” said Cooper.
“It was a bit of a different one. We were very happy for Swansea to have the ball as much as they did, because that’s what they do. But they also give up a lot of chances and concede a lot of goals. So there was a clear game-plan for us.
Surridge homes in on treble
Sam Surridge is reaping the rewards of feeling at “home” at Nottingham Forest, according to boss Steve Cooper.
The front man scored a superb second-half treble as Swansea City were thumped 5-1 at the City Ground. That hat-trick took his tally to eight goals in 18 appearances for the Reds since his January move from Stoke City, and he received a standing ovation from the home fans when he came off with 15 minutes to go.
With Lewis Grabban and Keinan Davis sidelined, Surridge has been getting his chance in the starting XI. And Cooper has challenged the striker to keep his red-hot form going as Forest head into their last two games of the regular campaign still in with a chance of sealing automatic promotion.
“We have given him an opportunity. Sam needed a home. Hopefully he has found one here, because we really believe in him,” said the Reds head coach.
“I worked with him before, ironically at Swansea. I was gutted when he left, but he’s here now and we love working with him."
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Forest a team to believe in
The stands were still full after the final whistle. Nottingham Forest made their way around a packed City Ground at the end. Nobody left.
Head coach Steve Cooper was keen to point out it was not a lap of honour. It was a lap of appreciation - and that worked both ways.
For the players, it was an acknowledgement of tremendous support throughout this season. For the fans, it was saluting a team who have given them something to believe in and to be proud of again. And who could yet achieve something really, really special.
That the Reds do not yet know whether they have played their last home game of 2021/22 is testament to the incredible journey they have been on. Automatic promotion is still a real possibility.
There's no getting away from how big a game it is against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, though. It's huge.
Cyrus boosts old club
Nottingham Forest took the lead against Swansea City at the City Ground on Saturday in one of the most bizarre ways imaginable.
The Swans failed to clear their lines in the box and Forest defender Jack Colback prodded the ball goalwards in the 22nd minute. It was seemingly blocked on the line by Cyrus Christie in a goalmouth scramble.
However, replays revealed that the former Red had not done so legally. The 29-year-old attempted to block the shot with his head while on the ground before intentionally knocking it away with the back of his arm.
Referee Graham Scott showed Christie a straight red card for the foul and pointed to the spot in the same breath. The drama did not end there, though.
Scott consulted his watch to find that the ball had actually crossed the line before Christie had handled it. That meant the penalty was taken away and a goal was awarded to Forest instead.
And Christie, somewhat breathing a sign of relief as his red card rescinded and replaced with a yellow, was chalked down as the scorer of an own goal.
