Defender Steve Cook joked about thanking referee Jon Moss as Nottingham Forest celebrated promotion to the Premier League.
Reds fans turned out in their thousands in the city’s Old Market Square for a special event to mark the club’s return to the top-flight. Head coach Steve Cooper, his staff and the players were given a heroes’ reception by a huge crowd as they appeared on the Council House balcony.
Forest had triumphed 1-0 over Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Sunday, but survived two penalty scares on a tense afternoon. VAR was called into action when Jack Colback stuck out a leg in the direction of Harry Toffolo. The Terriers man had been booked for diving, and the video check agreed no foul had taken place. Huddersfield also argued they should have had a spot-kick late on, when substitute Max Lowe went in on Lewis O’Brien.
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Asked what the dressing room was like afterwards, Cook told the crowd: “Relieved. We knew what was riding on us and how much this support needed Premier League football.
“I wasn’t worried about the game, I was worried about the fans and I was worried about the emotions after. I knew we could take care of the game.
“But you never know in football, you never know what’s going to happen. We’ll thank Jon Moss today - what a ******* guy! We love VAR! Up the Tricky Trees!”
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The city centre was jam-packed for the event. And January signing Cook added: “I just thank everyone here for turning out. I thought it was a Bank Holiday today, and it’s not!
“I’ve only been here a short amount of time, but this fanbase and this city is incredible. You guys deserve it.
“I came here knowing nothing, really, about the fanbase, and now I know everything - the history of the club and the fans here. It’s meant to be a working day, and I can’t even see the end of the crowd.
“You guys deserve this. The emotions and everything, it’s incredible.
“I’m just so thankful to be here. I’m thankful that you guys have accepted me into the club and into the cult, I would say. You are just amazing.”
