'Forest can almost taste Champions League football'published at 11:40
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Former Nottingham Forest defender Wes Morgan has said the atmosphere around the club is "buzzing" and he "can't see any reason why there would be any slip-ups" as Nuno Espirito Santo's side challenge for Champions League football.
As the graphic below shows, Opta's 'supercomputer' now gives the Reds a 93.3% chance of qualifying for Europe's elite competition after Tuesday's 1-0 win over Manchester United.
"Everyone's buzzing - it's a really good feeling and things are just going from strength to strength," Morgan, who now works in the academy at the club, told 5 Live Breakfast.
"You can really see the togetherness in and around the place. We're not there yet, but if you look at the table, there's seven games and you can almost taste it.
"Looking at the fixtures ahead, there's not too many big challenges. The pathway is there and they just need to stay focused and not get carried away.
"It's completely surprised everyone that they're in this position - but deservedly so."
'Very interesting to see where this journey takes us' - Reidpublished at 08:55
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Nottingham Forest's squad has "evolved really nicely" since their promotion three years ago and Champions League qualification would help them build upon it, says former midfielder Andy Reid.
Forest's win over Manchester United on Tuesday opened up an eight-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea.
"It was tough after playing 120 minutes against Brighton with a lot of recovery and preparation involved but Nuno made some really good changes in game," Reid told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He replaced players at the right time and gave Forest a real good platform to hold out and win a massive three points.
"When you think back to Forest being promoted three years ago, the turnover in players has been massive. The squad has evolved really nicely and the recruitment over the last two years has been very well thought through."
Forest overcame injuries to key players Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi to hold off United but Reid recognises the squad will need investment to thrive at the next level.
"To get into the Champions League and hold onto your top players is obviously massive but the income that it generates and being able to invest again also is," he said. "The owner is very ambitious and wants to have top-level success. He puts his money where his mouth is but with the financial rules you have to back it up with income.
"It's going to be very interesting to see where this journey takes us and it's so exciting for the Forest fans who for so many years have had it really tough.
"They can enjoy it and they are proud to come and support their team."
Tom: Wow, it's never over until the final whistle with Forest! But a great backs-to-the-wall effort and Murillo did what he does, in the right place at right time!
Ken: The teams we beat don't like our style, mainly because it's mightily successful. We don't try to be something we are not. We have a squad where even the fringe players want their squad mates to succeed - there's no bitterness there at all. Next season will be the test. We will need 10 more quality players to cope with the extra games we will have if we qualify for Europe, but as Cloughie said: "I hope anybody isn't stupid enough to write us off!"
Kris: It was another solid defensive display with devastating counter attacking and a brilliant goal to take the three points. Elanga got the plaudits, but Yates, Williams and Murillo really shone. With Wood and Hudson-Odoi, we would have made even lighter work of a team that lacked any cutting edge. The Champions League dream gets closer!
David: Very proud of our guys. I was worried with only getting three days rest between games. Anthony Elanga definitely had a score to settle with Man Utd. One more game down. Only a handful left to play. I actually think we can take some silverware this season as well.
James: What a win for Forest! Even when we were under the cosh, and just days after 120 mins and penalties at Brighton, we were so well organised and kept believing. The fans were incredible. Forest would be an asset to the Champions League!
John: No doubt much of the media will focus on United but hey, who cares. A masterclass goal from Elanga; a masterclass on how to defend a lead and concentrate until the final whistle and a masterclass from Yates on controlling the midfield. A superb performance especially after extra time and penalties on Saturday. Total commitment again. As a fan, you can't ask for better than this.
Samuel: Credit must go to Nuno Espirito Santo for how he has come into this club, following Steve Cooper after all he did, and transitioned these players into such a well organised team. They fight for one another and the crowd. The atmosphere around the club is electric. Thing is, they're just getting better and better. He must get manager of the season! I fancy us to beat Man City at Wembley as well!
Gossip: Forest eye up Ivory Coast defenderpublished at 07:27
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Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Newcastle are among the clubs interested in Roma's 25-year-old Ivory Coast defender Evan Ndicka, who is rated at 40m euros (£33.4m). (Caught Offside), external
'A very hard game for us' - Nunopublished at 23:31 1 April
23:31 1 April
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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to TNT Sports: "Suffer, hard work, believe, helping each other, clearance on the line. It was a very hard game for us."
On Anthony Elanga's goal: "He's a special boy and he gives this team his speed. He does it by himself and we are delighted."
On captain Ryan Yates: "He is a special player for us, club captain and he is heart of the team."
On making two first-half substitutes: "Look, I think the game was going away from us, we were not able to control and United were given too many situations.
"We decided on the injury [to Ola Aina] to go to a back five and Morato could give a hand. That was the reason behind it."
On Ola Aina's injury: "We don't know. Hopefully, it is not too serious."
On doing the double over Manchester United: "The records, the boys are breaking all of them and today the City Ground was part of the game. We were against the ropes. The City ground helps us."
On the Champions League: "Let's focus on the next one. It is day-by-day."
'I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league' - Elangapublished at 23:21 1 April
23:21 1 April
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Nottingham Forest goalscorer Anthony Elanga, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. I saw the space and I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league.
"The finish is something I have been trying to work on. Left foot or right foot, I am quite comfortable with both feet this season.
"All you want to do is keep on improving, coming here is about playing and developing. I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there. I am enjoying my football and I want to keep on going.
"We have one of the lowest possession in the league, but it has been effective and it is something we have worked on since pre-season. Murillo's block means more than a goal, seeing it on the bench I was like 'wow'.
On Forest's team spirit: "It started in pre-season, the manager came in December last season and when he came we struggled.
"He got his ideas across [during pre-season] and we have been able to play different systems. Every player can play any position. That togetherness is important and it says it on the pitch."
'Special' win for Forest - Yatespublished at 22:48 1 April
22:48 1 April
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Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates, speaking to TNT Sports: "Special, after a massive performance.
"120 minutes the other day - it is unbelievable. The determination, fans were incredible and buzzing to keep the run going.
"We're having a great season. The past two seasons were about staying up, keeping our head above water, and we have got that momentum at the minute."
On goalscorer Anthony Elanga: "He is a dream for a midfielder. Especially us sitting in that low-block - you can give him the ball and he does the rest."
On possibly qualifying for Champions League: "I don't want to say as football is so cruel. We have got the cup to focus on and we have got the league.
"We are at Villa Park [on] Saturday and they're flying. We take each game as it comes."
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd: Did you know?published at 22:34 1 April
22:34 1 April
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Nottingham Forest have kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season - more than any other side, and their joint-most ever in a campaign in the competition (also 13 in 1994-95).
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd - send us your thoughtspublished at 22:00 1 April
What happened that day remains a sore point for most Forest fans - Paul Gascoigne escaped punishment for two wild tackles and Brian Clough failed to win the one trophy that eluded him.
Making things difficult is a habit that is hard to break; securing enough points to avoid relegation last season only to be hit with a four-point PSR punishment, dodging the drop to League One on goal difference in 2017, clinching promotion back to the Championship in 2008 on the final day of the season.
Even en route to our first European Cup in 1979, Forest conceded three at home to Cologne in the first leg of the semi-final.
We have talked endlessly about Matz Sels, Ryan Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic this season but it is the character of the whole squad, the whole club, that keeps on giving.
That was all evident in Saturday's win at Brighton. Nuno clearly has a high regard for the FA Cup and perhaps also a sense of unfinished business after his Wolves side lost to Watford in the 2019 semi-final.
Now set to face Manchester City, Forest's second trip to Wembley in three years harks back to the Clough era when trips down the M1 were a regular occurrence. Playing the Premier League champions and last year's runners-up, despite their toils this season, will of course be a huge occasion for a fanbase starved of success.
With two big matches this week against Manchester United and Aston Villa, the Reds' season is still very much alive on two fronts. And while it will not be easy, we can only hope Forest do not make it difficult for themselves - there are enough challenges as it is.
'We have done nothing yet' - Milenkovic on season run-inpublished at 11:00 1 April
11:00 1 April
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Nikola Milenkovic says Nottingham Forest must not get carried away by their current position as they approach the closing stages of what has been a memorable campaign for the club.
Forest are third in the Premier League with nine games to play and will appear in their first FA Cup semi-final for 34 years later this month, providing chances to qualify for Europe next season for the first time in nearly three decades.
"It is difficult to imagine we could have been in this position," Serbia defender Milenkovic told BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone.
"But this is now our reality. We are so happy to be in this position at this moment.
"But we need to keep our feet on the ground. We have done nothing yet. We need to keep improving, keep working as a team and keep pushing in the last games."
Central to Forest's success has been the centre-back partnership between Milenkovic and Murillo.
Describing his 22-year-old team-mate as a "top player", Milenkovic said: "We understand each other really well. We complement each other really well.
"Our characteristics are different but that helps us to work better together. The relationship between us is very good.
"But the defence is all the team. If the rest of the team is defending well, it is easier for the back four and the goalkeeper. It is about the whole team but Murillo is a top player with very big potential - and he will get better."
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