Nottinghamshire

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest supporters should be allowed to "get carried away" this season, says co-founded of the Forza Garibaldi fan group Matthew Oldroyd.

The Reds' impressive campaign does not show signs of slowing down as they sit third in the Premier League, six points off leaders Liverpool.

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, Oldroyd said: "It has been rather wonderful. It has been a long time coming but I think we have deserved it as Forest fans.

"It's been fantastic to be back among the top reaches of the Premier League. I was a young lad in the Frank Clark era when we were last doing that, but many fans will be seeing this for the first time in their lives and it's absolutely brilliant.

"Let's get carried away. Let's have a bit of a dream about what can come. We have had our hearts broken before, but it has been about escaping out of League One or avoiding the relegation back down there. We are entitled to have a bit of a dream and we are entitled to think: 'You know what, we believe in this team, we believe in Nuno.'

"Let's dream about Europe. Let's think: 'Actually, we can do that, we know we can do that' and if anything else comes beyond that – I know the title challenge is there or thereabouts but that will be very tough – but let's think about it.

"Let's have that bit of a dream because we don't know when these times might come round again. We have seen them disappear before."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.

BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.

You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).

Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.

Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.

League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.

Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.

Defender Andrew Omobamidele is closing in a move to Strasbourg from Nottingham Forest. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele is due to join Strasbourg on loan.

The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to make an impression since joining from Norwich for £11m in 2023.

It is unclear if there is an option to buy for the Ligue 1 side - managed by former Hull boss Liam Rosenior - but Omobamidele has been to France for talks this week.

He has made just 15 appearances - eight league starts - for the club and has only played once - in the League Cup defeat to Newcastle in August - this season.

Murillo - who signed a new deal this week - along with summer signings Nikola Milenkovic and Morato have been preferred to Omobamidele with Forest conceding just 22 times in the Premier League.

Strasbourg are 10th in Ligue 1, five points behind Lyon who occupy the final European spot.

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood says he is "excited for the future" after signing a new deal with the club.

Wood, who has scored 14 goals in 23 games this season, has signed a two-year contract to keep him at the club until 2027.

On extending his stay, the 33-year-old said: "I'm very excited and very happy to have it completed and done, and I'm looking forward to the next couple of years, at least.

"I saw the ambition when I first arrived. When I spoke to the owner and his family and saw where they want to be and where they see this club to be - it was clear they have high ambitions and big dreams. He has backed the club for years, even before promotion to the Premier League, which is fantastic, and the team is pushing in the right direction.

"I'm excited for the future. This club has a lot of potential to continue to grow and build, and that is what I want to be a part of. I can't thank the fans enough, they always come in voice and they're always behind the team and myself, it's a pleasure playing in front of them. Here's to a few more years together."

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said of Wood: "He has performed exceptionally well with us. More than just his goals, he epitomises everything that it means to wear the Garibaldi Red – hard work, a fighting and wining spirit, and the attitude to never give up.

"He is a winner and a role model to inspire all of us, and we reward his dedication with ours."

What does this mean, Forest fans? Do the Reds need another striker or will Wood lead the line for years to come?

Let us know

David Prutton thinks Nottingham Forest should pursue European football as "a necessity" in what is a "glorious" spell at the football club.

BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray caught up with the former Forest midfielder after Sunday's game against Southampton and Prutton said on the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast: "Given what Nottingham Forest are doing - it's a joyous time to be at the City Ground, the feeling around the place is just glorious at this moment in time.

"Given what Nuno brought to the side and the quality of players, there was always an element of progression and consolidation - it's very surprising to see where they are.

"In tandem, with so called bigger clubs not hitting their straps, Forest have needed to beat what's in front of them and they've beaten some very big teams and they've played in a way that I find extremely entertaining - and it's just a very likeable bunch of people doing some incredible work.

"European football should absolutely be the first port of call. That run for the title - Forest are there in the slipstream, no expectation of getting anywhere near the top of the tree and should really work in tandem with that.

"Europe, now you've got to really be thinking that's a necessity and if they're anywhere near the title - that's a phenomenal season."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Every so often, a player is described by a pundit as someone who "loves to defend".

Most fans would naturally welcome such a sort in their team, that player who stands tall, lets stuff bounce off him and somehow masters the ability to become a magnet to the ball when it enters the penalty area.

BBC Sport took a look at three metrics this season - headed clearances, blocks and tackles - to see which players seem to relish this kind of thing.

Everton's James Tarkowski leads the way, amassing a total of 131 across the three areas, with Brentford's Nathan Collins second. The two men have made 73 headed clearances each, a stat that proves their value when it comes to defending dead balls.

Murillo - fresh from his contract extension at Nottingham Forest - was highlighted in recent weeks for a no-nonsense display against Liverpool, when he frequently launched clearances into the night. He makes the top three across these metrics and while Brazilian players are so often lauded for their flair, he can proudly carry the 'loves-to-defend' tag.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Bournemouth (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno said winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was in "a lot of pain" when he was taken off with a tight groin in the first half of Sunday's win over Southampton and Forest "have to asses if he will be available or not".

• On his team's eight-game unbeaten run: "We are happy and satisfied with the performance of the players because they are committed, they work very hard, and we are competing very well. That's the big challenge ahead of us - to sustain this level of performance."

• His team are exceeding his hopes from the start of the season, with Nuno stating: "Nobody expected it. Nobody can predict the situation. It is due to the bond. They help each other not only in training but during the matches. Expectations are clearly there to see."

• Nuno said Forest will prioritise keeping his current squad together over bringing players in: "I think the club is working more than anything on the basic to keep our players here because this is the squad we have and these are the players that can solve all our problems. It's a very tricky market in terms of improvement so let's focus and keep our players here."

• He did not comment on reported interest in Brentford's Yoanne Wissa or Wolves' Matheus Cunha but added: "We only consider options to improve us as a squad because our players are performing very very well."

• On defender Murillo signing a new deal until 2029: "We are delighted that he will be long term at Forest. He is a player with immense talent who can improve immensely due to his age. As long as he keeps himself healthy and available he is going to be great."

• On a potential new deal for top goalscorer Chris Wood: "Things are going well I think but I cannot give much further detail on that."

• On opponents Bournemouth: "Very good team. Good players, good manager, compete very well. It's a team that is going to be very tough and challenging for us."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport, East Midlands

Image source, Rex Features

Will Alassana Jatta stay with Notts County, or will be be swept off during the transfer window and into a higher division?

That is the question that was put to Magpies boss Stuart Maynard on Thursday after their leading scorer was linked with Championship sides Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth, as well as League One club Bolton Wanderers.

Reports say that Plymouth have had a £750,000 bid turned down for the 26-year-old Gambian, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions for the League Two Magpies this season.

None of the transfer speculation around the striker has come as a surprise to Maynard.

"You are going to get interest from a lot of clubs, from the Championship and abroad, when a player like AJ comes in and performs to the level he has," he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It's where we are at as a football club now. If we want success and to keep going through the leagues and keep being at the top of the division to complete, then we need to make sure that when we sign players they we will then have interest from other clubs because they will be performing that well."

But will Notts be able to hold out and keep Jatta at Meadow Lane to help in their quest for promotion?

"He is our player at the minute, but everyone does have a value," Maynard said.

"And that's the biggest thing, I can't say to you yes or no.

"He loves it at the football club, he comes in and works so hard every day and he will continue to do that."

You can listen to more from Maynard and the the interest in Jatta by clicking here.

Image source, Getty Images

Overachieving as a team is a great feeling and that is how Brighton, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest players will all be feeling.

Going on a run of games and beating top teams helps to breed confidence and team morale. Then everything feels so much better.

Training becomes more enjoyable and it is easier to be motivated for other games. Plus, you have more belief in your game plan, your manager and everything that is going on around you.

Sometimes having a strong work rate and a game plan that marries with the ability of the team is better than having a team full of strong individuals.

No-one would have thought that Forest, who were fighting relegation last season, would be joint second in the Premier League.

They are comfortable in the way they are playing and, although Brighton and Bournemouth have a different style, they are all successful.

Everything around those clubs is positive, internally and externally at the moment.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Nottingham Forest are preparing a club-record bid, possibly in the region of £60m, to try lure Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 25, away from Wolves. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport