Nottingham

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A Nottingham Forest-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Kevin asked: Hi Phil, amid a weekend of controversial VAR calls and late wins and equalisers, do you think the most underrated team at the moment is Nottingham Forest? A 3-1 East Midlands Derby win and up to seventh in the table with a fourth-place goalscorer in Chris Wood? I think they deserve so much more recognition for their achievements.

Phil answered: Hi Neil. Fully agree. Nottingham Forest deserve great praise for that they have done so far this season, although I do think they have been getting credit - and what a season Chris Wood is having.

Nuno has quietly put a Forest team together in exactly the way he likes. Solid defence, pace on the flanks and a central goal threat - very much like he did at Wolves.

The atmosphere at the City Ground is always special and it will be even better if Forest's form carries on.

Read more from the Q&A with Phil McNulty and the rest of Monday's football news

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Nottingham Forest's start to the season has been "phenomenal" under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Forest sit in seventh, having taken 16 points from the first nine games, which is already a vast improvement on last season in which they finished 17th on 32 points - after a four point deduction.

"What a brilliant start they have had," said Robinson on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "You can only give them credit for where they are.

"We are only nine games into the season but they are already halfway to last season's points total. That is phenomenal.

"Nuno all of a sudden seems to be the right fit for them. There is a lot of good feeling around Forest at the minute and Nuno has to take credit for that. The system and way they play is getting results and Chris Wood is scoring goals.

"Wood seems to be going on to the pitch each week knowing he can score goals and that is an incredible feeling for any player to have.

"But with success comes expectation, so what is the expectation or reality for this season? I think you just have to enjoy the ride."

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Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer says Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is "in the form of his life" after netting his sixth and seventh league goals of the season against Leicester City.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "He is unbelievable. He is in the form of his life. He is in the place where you're not hoping you are going to score goals, instead you actually know you're going to go out and score them.

"He is just full of confidence. He scored two very different goals against Leicester. For the first one, it is his movement to go into the box and get around the defenders, then his first touch and the swivel, then how he wraps his foot around the ball the way that he did.

"He had no other thought in his mind. He knew exactly where the goal was and there wasn't even one thought about passing it to anyone else. He just wanted to get the shot away - and why shouldn't he with the form he is in?

"For his second goal, he is just too strong for Wout Faes. His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is and what he has to do is so impressive. It was a clever finish to just guide it in with his head, over the goalkeeper.

"It should be a great feeling for him."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: First half, we played like we were attacking at home. To their credit, Leicester exploited the open play and looked dangerous, without really worrying our goalkeeper. Second half, we started so well and it knocked the stuffing out of Leicester. They lost their way, while we looked totally in control. I hope this run lasts!

Ashley: Once they matched Leicester in the midfield, there was only team equipped to win that game. A tougher run of games isn't too far away, so that was a massive three points!

Lewis: A dominant display and we should have had more goals, after hitting the woodwork a couple of times and Yates skying his shot from four yards out. We look a proper outfit this season and we are still improving. Hopefully we can solidify as a Premier League team now, in readiness for next season. That reminds me, I must check my passport!

Scott: It was ironic that Yates opened the scoring, because no manager did more for his game than Steve Cooper. Nuno is getting a chance to show everyone what a good manager he is. Fifth doesn't mean anything at this stage, but it is nice to see. The next three fixtures will give us some more clarity about where we really are - they are all established teams.

Ben: I have to keep pinching myself when I'm looking at where we are now compared with three years ago. I was so impressed with our second-half performance, and long may Chris Wood's scoring continue. The fact we keep accumulating points, without both MGW and Danilo, shows our depth and how good our recruitment has been. I can't believe Milenkovic was only £12m - what a steal!

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external

What did you make of Nottingham Forest’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Defensively, this is Nottingham Forest's best start to a season since 1980 when they were champions of Europe.

Just six goals conceded in the Premier League - only Liverpool have let in fewer - has been the foundation of a promising opening eight games before Friday's match at Leicester. Nikola Milenkovic's influence, after his £12m move from Fiorentina, has been crucial while Matz Sels is firmly established as number one.

Forest had three goalkeepers last term, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Sels after his January arrival. Only the Belgium international is still at the club after Turner's loan move to Crystal Palace and Vlachodimos' transfer to Newcastle and he remains cautious of talking up Forest this season.

"We can compare our statistics to 1980 but - I know it's a cliche - we need to look at it week by week and try to get to 40 points as quickly as possible," Sels said. "Only then, can we maybe set our objectives higher.

"It's difficult when you don't take points at the beginning of the season - you start to play with pressure in every game.

"That's why it was so important for our confidence that we were playing well and picking up points from our first games at the start of the season. Now we are trying to continue this way."

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Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Nottingham Forest player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Ian Woan.