Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has highlighted the key aspect of Nottingham Forest 's style of play that means Steve Cooper has his players in the "palm of his hand".
Forest booked themselves a play-off date against Sheffield United after letting a late lead slip in their 1-1 draw at Hull City on Saturday. But while Forest's focus is on the next game, many are reflecting on the incredible turnaround engineered at the City Ground by head coach Cooper.
When the former Swansea City boss arrived on Trentside in September 2021, the Reds were bottom of the second-tier having suffered their worst start to a league campaign in 107 years. In just eight months, however, Cooper has taken a side destined to be involved in a relegation scrap or mid-table battle to heading into the penultimate game of the season with an outside shot at automatic promotion to the Premier League.
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While joining Fulham in the automatic spots failed to materialise after a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, a top-flight return for the first time in two decades remains a possibility as the Reds prepare for a semi-final clash with United.
Discussing the Reds' brilliant turnaround in form, former Huddersfield Town boss Cowley - who is now at League One side Portsmouth - highlighted one clear sign of Cooper's excellence as a coach.
On the EFL on Quest highlights show, Cowley said: "It's been a brilliant run, they have been so consistent and tactically intelligent too. I think the sign of a really good coach is when they make his players better, the moment you do that you have the players in the palm of your hand."
EFL expert George Elek added: "Whether it is young players like Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence or older players like Lewis Grabban and Jack Colback, they all seem to love and enjoy playing for him. He is a great man manager and a brilliant tactical coach too.
"I think he's learned from the Swansea experience too as we're seeing a different style of football now; buccaneering is how I would describe it."
