Friday’s trip to Luton Town is the kind of challenge Nottingham Forest must meet head-on in order to be “an achieving team”, according to boss Steve Cooper.
The Reds make the trip to Kenilworth Road on Friday in terrific form, having recorded five straight wins and gone 10 unbeaten in the Championship. They are up to fourth in the table, just six points below second-placed Bournemouth ahead of the lunchtime showdown.
But they will come up against a Hatters side with top-six ambitions of their own. Nathan Jones’ men are a place and two points below Forest, although have played two games more.
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Cooper is well aware of the threat the hosts will pose. But there will be no doubt his team will travel south in the same frame of mind which has got them this far.
“They are having a very good season. We’re going to their home, and any away game in the Championship is very difficult,” said Cooper.
“They are a force there. And they’ve been good away from home as well.
“We’re under no illusions how tough the game is and the environment we’re going into. But it’s what makes the Championship what it is.
“We will go down there looking forward to the game and ready to commit to it.
“It will be a really tough game. They have been as strong as anybody this season as an opponent, and particularly when they are at home.
“We know that this is a tough test. But if you want to be an achieving team, you’ve got to go to these tough tests, wherever they are, back yourselves to play well and try to get the right result. That’s what we will be doing.
“We’re very aware of the season Luton are having and how they play. We’ve got a lot of respect for that. But at the same time, we always have to look internally at what we’re doing well, try to get the right plan together, turn up there and make it a positive day.”
