Nottingham Forest end their winter break in a good place, but boss Steve Cooper admits “the proof is in the pudding” when it comes to trying to pick up from where they left off.
A turnaround in fortunes saw the Reds build up some momentum just before the season paused for the World Cup. They went into the six-week hiatus having suffered just two defeats in eight games in all competitions and on the back of a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace which lifted them off the foot of the table.
Results and performances in the four friendlies they have played in preparation for the restart have been mixed, although Cooper’s side rounded things off by beating Valencia 2-1. The head coach is happy with what his team have been able to take away from the past few weeks, but knows all clubs are heading into unknown territory ahead of the Premier League’s resumption.
