Pundit Simon Jordan says beating Liverpool does not change the challenge facing Nottingham Forest this season.
The Reds secured a brilliant victory over Jurgen Klopp’s side on Saturday, putting in their best performance of the campaign to triumph 1-0 amid an electric atmosphere at the City Ground. Taiwo Awoniyi bagged the goal to clinch the three points, while Dean Henderson also grabbed the headlines with some superb saves at the other end of the pitch.
Forest still sit bottom of the Premier League table, with a trip to Arsenal next up, but there have been signs of progress in recent weeks. And against Liverpool, they looked like a team which is starting to gel, following a summer overhaul.
READ MORE: Shock Southgate question posed as Yates shines for Forest
READ MORE: Klopp hails 'sensational' ex-Liverpool striker after setting new Forest record
That is testament to the work done by head coach Steve Cooper, who was facing the sack little more than three weeks ago. The Welshman’s job was on the line earlier this month, following the 4-0 thumping at Leicester City, but owner Evangelos Marinakis opted to stick with him and a new contract ended up being signed.
Jordan argues the weekend’s win wasn’t validation of that decision, however. And he has dubbed it as “a moment in the sun” for the Reds.
He told talkSPORT: “I think it would have been preposterous, in the circumstances of Nottingham Forest and where they’ve been for 23 years and the journey they are now on, and irrespective of how much money they’ve spent in this instance - because that was money which to me was unfathomable, to have spent that amount of money and brought the amount of players they have in - that Steve Cooper should ultimately be booted out the door six or seven games in. Because that’s what we were talking about.
“The fact the owner went the other way - did a Simon Cowell misdirection, where everyone thinks he’s going to do something and does something else - okay.
“It’s a moment in the sun. I still think they’ve got a very long and difficult campaign ahead of them.
“They’ve got Arsenal coming up. I think they’ll get put to the sword there.
“They’ve caught a seemingly very dysfunctional Liverpool side; albeit they might be wracked with injuries, but there’s enough amongst that Liverpool side to deal with Nottingham Forest. And Steve Cooper goes forward - and so he rightly should. He should be given an opportunity to gel a group of players who have been brought together, to try to make a football team capable of staying in the Premier League.
“I still think they’ve got a task ahead of them. And I think those moments in time are what he will get every now and again.
“Beating Liverpool 1-0 was a great result. But I don’t think it’s anything more than that. I don’t think it’s validation of the owner’s decision. I just think it’s a simple situation of they’ve won a game, against Liverpool.”
Do you agree with Simon Jordan? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT:
