Famed Midlands club Nottingham Forest haven’t had the most successful of seasons since returning to the top-flight in 2022/23, winning just nine games this campaign (at the time of writing) to languish towards the bottom of the Premier League table.
It could have been worse however, as the Steve Cooper-managed side were at great risk of immediately returning to the Championship less than a month ago. That was evidenced in the premier league relegation odds, as Forest were garnering a short price in the betting lines to go down.
In spite of that, they have managed to remain in English football’s top tier for at least another year. That was confirmed in their most recent fixture against title runners-up Arsenal, who they bested 1-0 thanks to a Taiwo Awoniyi goal in the 19th minute.
Cooper said he never lacked confidence or belief in his squad – and if he had – that his players wouldn’t have had it either.
“At times it was difficult. We went two-and-a-half months without winning a game. Think about that,” he said.
“It was my fourth year in first-team football and I knew I would experience losing more. But I needed to suffer and go through difficult periods.
“I have a long way to go before I am a proper manager but if I am serious about managing this club I needed to show I could do it in difficult moments as well.”
Cooper also noted that he is forever indebted to the fans, who he said stood by him and the club during the most turbulent ofperiods this season.
“What they have given me this year in an era of people always wanting change and having no patience, our supporters have been the complete opposite,” he added.
“They have been the best with me in some difficult times. That takes some doing.
“The whole sense of being part of something, being wanted and that sense of belonging is such a powerful feeling.
“Our supporters have set the standard for how to support a team.”
He needed all of that support and then some towards the end of April, when Forest lost to Liverpool 3-2 at Anfield, marking the Tricky Trees’ eleventh straight fixture without securing a win. However, Jesse Lingard and company have managed to turn their fortunes around since, notching up impressive wins against Brighton, Southampton and Arsenal, to coincide with a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Their triumph over Brighton was a particularly important fixture, as not only did it break the terrible eleven game streakwithout a victory, but getting into the winner’s column against a team the calibre of the Seagulls had to be a massive boost for the squad’s morale.
While relegation is no longer on the table for the men in red and white, they will want to finish their season on a high in their last fixture of the season this weekend against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Palace are the prohibitive favourites at odds of 3/4, while Forest are outsiders at 15/4. A draw is garnering a price of 33/10.
