Nottingham Forest

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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Here is what our Bournemouth fan Tom Jordan had to say on questions put by our Nottingham Forest supporter Saveena Johal.

Considering your current form and home record against us in recent seasons, how are you viewing this match?

We are on a fantastic run and we have to be confident. Having said that, Forest are one of a few sides who are in just as remarkable form as us. Considering our injury crisis and somewhat surprising four points gained from Chelsea and Newcastle, I think I would be happy with a point.

We do have an impressive record against the Reds but this current Forest side are a different animal. I actually believe both sides would be content to share the spoils in this one.

How much do you feel injuries have impacted your season, and is this a worry for you going into the Forest game?

Our long injury list has been infuriating this season but, equally, the way some of the fringe players have stepped up is a huge positive. We have dealt with being without so many first-teamers incredibly well, but with a tight game expected, I do fear we will have fewer options to make the changes required in the latter stages.

We are known for having scorers and impactful substitutions regularly, but it is very much anticipated that our bench will be filled with goalkeepers and development players for this one.

Both Forest and Bournemouth are having a great time this season - what has been the best part of your campaign so far?

In terms of moments and matches themselves, there have been countless games to remember. Beating Manchester City for the first time in the top flight, scoring three goals in nine minutes to win at Everton, battering an in-form Newcastle on their own patch, and even hammering Manchester United at Old Trafford... again!

But, in general, it has just been the style of football that we feel fortunate enough to witness. Andoni Iraola has made us a joy to watch. We are so brave and offensive, and Cherries fans feel very lucky to be entertained every week.

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Saveena Johal
Fan writer

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Here is what our Nottingham Forest supporter Saveena Johal had to say on questions put by our Bournemouth fan Tom Jordan.

Who would you say is your most underrated player? Your unsung hero of the season so far?

Neco Williams has been exceptional. He has slipped under the radar, which may be understandable given the overall quality in the squad.

Alex Moreno was our stable left-back, but being on loan from Aston Villa meant that he couldn't play in our home win against them. Since then, Williams has slotted into his position on the left, and become first choice.

It is easy to forget he is a natural right-back. He comes out as one of the highest rated for tackles, interceptions, blocks and clearances per 90. While dominant against Mohamed Salah last week, he has been consistent throughout the season.

If you could take one player from the current Bournemouth squad, who would it be?

Antoine Semenyo would add depth for us, particularly as we have just put a bid in for Yoane Wissa so are clearly looking to strengthen that winger position.

He has looked explosive in midfield and his aggressive style of play would fit in with our set-up. Pouncing on the opposition, with his pace, would work in sync with our counter-attacking approach. His two-footed ability and fine finishing would also be a welcome addition.

If you were offered a seventh-place finish come the end of the season, would you take it considering your current position?

The optimist in me would say no but, from a more realistic perspective, I would take it.

It is important to be able to dream big and, for now, the majority of Forest supporters are enjoying this wave of success. It is still incredibly tight at the top, and other teams are slowly creeping up. Despite this, I am still confident we can tackle the difficult run that is fast approaching.

With five English teams possibly getting into next season's Champions League, a seventh-place finish may qualify us for the Europa League, which we have a higher chance of progressing in.

Find more from Saveena Johal at Punjabi Forest, external

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The team scoring first has won none of the five Premier League meetings between Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest (D3 L2) - in all five cases, it has been the home side to go 1-0 up.

Following the news that Chris Wood has signed a new two-year deal, we asked for your views on the Nottingham Forest striker extending his stay until 2027.

Here are some of your comments:

Ken: The second stellar signing of the window. What a revelation Chris Wood has been this season. We've found the perfect ways to provide him service and even if we were to buy Matheus Cunha, he would be no threat to Woody's place. Far from it, it's more likely Morgan Gibbs-White who would be fighting for his own position. Shots, knock-ons, headers and, at 33, can still get back and help out. We are really lucky to have him.

Mossy: Ideal time to get a young player in, like Liam Delap, to learn and play alongside Wood. Would have liked Wood to give up his New Zealand career, so he can be fully focused on Nottingham Forest and to stay fit.

Peter: He does indeed epitomise what it means to play for Forest. However, we do need to strengthen in that area as when Wood gets injured or Nuno wants an alternative approach, we've only got Taiwo Awoniyi - who is not currently match fit.

Stephen: Great signing of Wood. I wasn't sure he was a good signing from Newcastle but he has proved me and others wrong. As we have seen with other key players who have picked up injuries, we need to have a replacement who is just as good but also someone younger who can compete but also learn from Wood. The likes of Delap or Evan Ferguson would be a good understudy.

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Nottingham Forest have confirmed defender Andrew Omobamidele has joined Strasbourg on a loan deal until the end of the season.

The Ligue 1 side - owned by the consortium BlueCo who also own Chelsea - have the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer.

Omobamidele joined Forest from Norwich in September 2023 and has made 15 appearances for the club.

The 22-year-old has also earned 10 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team.

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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

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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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

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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

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There are plenty of outstanding stars for Nottingham Forest this season.

Chris Wood, Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nikola Milenkovic and Matz Sels have all taken the headlines at times.

That is before you even get to Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi or Elliot Anderson.

But the strength of Forest this season is that the team, and squad, have all contributed - otherwise they would not be third in the Premier League.

Morato has made just two league starts this season - and 13 substitute appearances - but Forest have conceded just twice when he has been on the pitch, with the defender regularly used to see games out.

Midfielder Nicolas Dominguez has impressed but perhaps not been in the spotlight, while Nuno Espirito Santo was also full of praise for Wayne Hennessey, who signed a surprise new contract earlier this month.

The goalkeeper, recovering from an Achilles injury, saw his deal expire at the end of last season but he has penned a short-term contract as emergency cover.

Nuno called him a big part of Forest's goalkeeper community and it epitomises the squad dynamic the manager and club are trying to foster.

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We asked for your views on the news that Murillo had signed a new contract with the club until 2029.

Here are some of your comments:

Ken: Murillo is the best signing of the window. The player himself has publicly said he wants to be here for the whole four years, so the only way he will leave is if Forest sell him. He's quite simply the best young centre-back in the world, and he's OURS! The deal pushes his price over £100m.

Mike: If he isn't already, Murillo will become the best player to have played for Forest since the glory days of the European Cup wins. He's that good. He'd start for any team in the world right now.

Brian: Our transfer strategy must be to keep our best players and this is fantastic news! Keep your hands off our Murillo, he'll make you cry into your pillow, keep your hands off our Murillo, our sweet Murillo is here to stay!

Shaun: What a great bit of news. As a result of Murillo signing, either Forest fans will get the pleasure of seeing him wear the Garibaldi Red for some time, or the club are assured of getting a massive payout to and will be able to really strengthen the team.

Steve: Fantastic news. He is incredibly talented and this vote of confidence will convince other players to stay and sign for Forest. It definitely feels like Forest are now back in the Premier League long term.

Luke: Good news for so many reasons. Most of all, I'm pleased it shows we are going about our business the right way while creating an environment top players want to remain in. The sky feels like the limit for us at the moment.

Pete: Another sign of how well run we are these days. By extending his contract, we've added even more value to his eventual selling price. Like all of our team, though, he is well grounded, humble and can rightly work out that, for now, Forest will provide him with the perfect environment on and off the pitch to fully blossom into the next Brazilian superstar.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Liverpool's victory over Lille last night was fundamentally good for them in that they are through to the last 16 and have secured a top-two seeding.

However, that is also a positive for English clubs as a whole.

The countries who finish top in the European Performance Spots table will get five teams in next season's Champions League.

England are currently top - clear of Italy, Spain and Portugal - and while Aston Villa's defeat did not help, bonus points are applied for every position in the table, with teams in the Champions League getting the most.

So Liverpool are heading for a chunky 12 or 11.75.

There has been so much talk about how well Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have done in the Premier League this season. Their chances of Champions League qualification will increase if English clubs keep doing well in Europe.

Nottingham Forest have made Wolves and Brazil forward Matheus Cunha their top January target in the push for Champions League qualification. (Mail, external)

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Murillo is a Nottingham Forest fan favourite and has extended his contract with the club until 2029.

How do you feel about the news? What is the next key move for the club to keep up this fine momentum?

Tell us here