Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City is a game of contrasting styles.

City are not a team known for going on quick breaks and Forest are not a side that keeps a lot of possession. However, they have both ended up being in similar positions in the league, so both systems can work.

In terms of how they go up against each other, I think there is a lot to be said about the value of that first goal.

From a Forest standpoint, taking a lead will give the confidence to believe they can hold on to it in the same way we have seen many times this season already.

They can frustrate their opposition into over-committing at times, meaning they can maybe go and get a second or a third goal while not adjusting their style of play.

For City, if they get the first goal, their ability to control the tempo of a game and possession can frustrate the opposition - especially if you want to try to force them to come out and on to you.

That first goal is going to be key because whoever gets it really will dictate the nature of the game. When sides have similar styles, the first goal could be the first of many and it could be back and forth. I don't necessarily predict that in this one.

It is too close to the end of the season to say that the Champions League is something Forest should not be thinking about, but they are also one win away from having the chance to play for silverware. So I think both things are massive.

The cup final is before the end of the season so Forest could go into it in great shape and with Champions League qualification looking likely anyway, so maintaining good form means both things look after themselves.

These are pinch yourself moments for the Forest fans. If they get one and not the other, they can decide how they feel about that afterwards. In the moment, as soon as you play down one thing, it can affect the other.

Forest are a robust team, tough to play against, and they have enough talent to win at home and on the road. Cup games are one-offs but I think they have got enough to be able to reach the Champions League.

Among the players, there will be belief and Nuno Espirito Santo will believe too.

The fans will be a little bit nervous, but they know the team is good enough to be able to do well given what they have done so far this season.

What would mean more to you - winning the FA Cup and the glory of lifting a trophy, or qualifying for the Champions League?

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Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Nottingham Forest will target 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder James McAtee if City move for their 25-year-old playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Newcastle have all registered an interest in Wolves striker Matheus Cunha. (Talksport, external)

Forest also have set their sights on Scottish defender Dara Jikiemi, 15, who has caught the eye in Celtic's academy. (Football Insider, external)

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Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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Much has been made of Nottingham Forest's possession this season. Or rather lack of it. Averaging just 39.3% per game, the Reds have been called the antidote to modern football.

In the age of pressing, passing, turnovers and xG, Forest have maintained their low ball retention of recent seasons but added a pragmatic yet ruthless approach to games. And while the naysayers might look at the statistics and call it anti-football, they're not watching what's in front of them.

This team of skillful, technical players are exhilarating and entertaining to watch at their best. The transition from defence to attack, the blistering pace, the exquisite cross-field passes, the clinical finishing… Forest's ability to score first — the best record in the Premier League, by a country mile — and their determination to protect that lead is something to marvel.

And while Tottenham Hotspur fans may sniff at Monday night's result, their potentially season-defining win last Thursday at Eintracht Frankfurt was achieved by defending a 1-0 win with… 39% possession.

Brian Clough's 18-year reign at the City Ground was built on basic fundamentals, some of which were already in the club's DNA. His instructions to the players were very simple while the style was very much based on a strong backbone, absorbing pressure and playing on the counterattack; this tactic was heavily leaned upon when playing away, especially in Europe.

Nuno Espírito Santo clearly has a long way to go before emulating Old Big 'Ead but what we are seeing this season is, in essence, classic Forest. And while it might nod to the past, it's certainly not old fashioned by any means. As ever in football, it's not how long you keep the ball but what you do with it.

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We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's performance in their 2-1 win against Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: For all the huff and puff Tottenham gave us in the second half, it never looked in doubt after Chris Wood's goal. Committed performance from all players in red - Harry Toffolo clearing off the line was legendary, Matz Sels' close-range block of Richarlison after a defensive mix-up equally so. We were full of that level of commitment, covering each other, working hard together. A good warm-up for Wembley at the weekend.

Andy: Forest dominate games without the ball. Ruthless approach to winning football matches. Brilliant.

Jil: Great comeback from back-to-back defeats. Toffolo's clearance was incredible - I'm so pleased he had a great game. Hearing all the fans sing his name... magic!

Doug: A very good performance considering the pressure we were under following recent results around us. We took control of the game early on and made it count. Well done, you Reds.

Rob: Forest did what they needed to do, especially with Ola Aina out injured. That said, Nuno Espirito Santo's change of formation in his backline was made too early and almost cost us the game.

Ross: Thrilled for Wood to get back on the scoreboard. What an instrumental figure in Forest's success this season. A real workhorse and classy finisher!

Luke: A terrifying second half to watch. I always feel like we shut up shop too soon, but you can't argue with it when we get results. Immense credit to Nuno for the way the team is drilled, just got to keep it together for another five fixtures. What a time to be alive!

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a big improvement. We reacted well from the previous game. There was a clear intention to bounce back and the boys did well.

"We controlled the game really well in the first half. We had goals, but also Tottenham created chances in the second half and we had to hold on to what we had.

"I don't believe it impacts us if we play before or after [our rivals]. The way we approach it is game by game.

"We've been able, this season, to compete well and fight for every ball. The boys did it.

"We have a big week ahead of us. We want to recover the players and we can enjoy this.

"If you look back at the first half, Tottenham created a lot of problems for us in wide areas. We had Matz [Sels] at a high level to keep us in the game. You have to remember we are playing quality players."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have won 53% ( nine of 17) of their Premier League away games this season, their best win percentage on the road in a campaign in the competition. Only Liverpool have won more away games across 2024-25 in the top flight (11).

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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Chris Wood timed it right to end his goal drought as his 19th of the season in the Premier League helped his side secure a crucial win at Tottenham that boosts Nottingham Forest's Champions League hopes.

The veteran striker has been instrumental to Forest's surprise form this term but the goals had dried up from mid-February and that also threatened to damage his side's push to finish in the top five as back-to-back losses, coupled with the weekend's results for other Europe hopefuls, had seen Forest slip to sixth.

But Wood was back to his best on Monday night with his goal - a deft flicked header over the goalkeeper - making it 2-0 and giving Forest the breathing space they needed.

With five Premier League games remaining, plus an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Wood's return to scoring could be pivotal to what Forest can achieve this season.

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What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says everyone should be proud of what the club have achieved so far this season as they look forward to playing in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Forest have been one of the surprise stories of the season, sitting near the top of the Premier League since the autumn.

And, although back-to-back defeats have raised the possibility of Forest falling at the final hurdle in their quest to finish in the top five, Nuno hopes people can focus on the positives with six games to go.

"It is what everyone should feel," he said. "They should feel proud and committed to the final sprint of the competition.

"I think so. That's why we as a group and as a club are proud to be in this fight.

"In one week's time we will be speaking about another huge moment for us, so we embrace it.

"We are delighted. The criticisms will come, the opinions will come, the doubts will come - and we are here for that."

Nottingham Forest are the counter-attack kings and they have the tools to get another win like the one they got over Spurs at the City Ground in December, where they had 30% of possession but won 1-0.

Forest have hit a bit of a blip of late, though, and they don't appear to be quite the same force they were a few weeks ago.

They are desperate for a win to get their top-five bid back on track and Nuno Espirito Santo's would love to get it on his return to Tottenham, where he did not last long as manager, but a draw feels more likely to me.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

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Tottenham have lost 17 Premier League matches in 2024-25, their most in a single season since the 2003-04 campaign (19). Ange Postecoglou is one of three managers to lose 17 or more games in a season, alongside Osvaldo Ardiles in 1993-94 (19) and Gerry Francis in 1996-97 (18).

Nottingham Forest have lost their past two Premier League matches, after winning three consecutive games beforehand. The Reds have only fallen to three defeats in a row once under Nuno Espirito Santo, doing so between February and March last season.

Nottingham Forest are planning to open new contract talks with winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. (Football Insider), external

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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game at Tottenham (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno confirmed Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi did not train with the squad on Thursday and will have to be assessed before Monday's game as they are "still carrying some problems".

• On Chris Wood, who returned from injury as a substitute in the loss to Everton on Saturday: "We have to manage Chris. He has been out for a while. Everton was good but not as good as we want. We are positive that on Monday he will be better."

• Nuno is focused on his side after two defeats in a row and positive results for the teams around them: "The blow is we were not able to perform as well as we wish, especially in the last game. That was the blow. In regards to the other teams, nothing has changed since the last weeks. It is in our hands and we cannot control them. Now it is about reacting and improving."

• On embracing expectations: "The expectation around us started the moment we were able to perform and get results. We are delighted, we embrace the challenge. We're not stepping back, we're stepping in. We want to try to get it. It's going to be very hard but, believe me, we are putting everything in this final stage of the season."

• When asked about Spurs' big Europa League quarter-final second leg at Frankfurt on Thursday, Nuno said: "We are going to watch the game. It's a big game and, for us, for analysis. It will determine what we expect for the Monday night line-up. Our focus is on that."

• On pressure on Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou: "All managers, we face the same. It's up to us to try to ignore and focus on the job we can control. Like me, like Ange, like all the managers in the world, what we can control is preparing our players."

• On having a clear week to prepare for Spurs: "It was good. Many of them are struggling with some situations. A clear week was good for us because it allowed us to recover the players and not push them immediately after a big effort."

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Saveena Johal
Fan writer

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Nottingham Forest's chances of European football might have been statistically higher a few weeks ago but we are a club excellent at breaking the norms when it comes to statistics. Sitting in the top four with such low possession per game is a reflection of this.

The fanbase appears largely divided, though. Some seem despondent about recent games, others remain hopeful while holding on to the perspective gained from recent seasons. My thoughts sit within the latter group.

Achieving European football in any capacity would still be a huge success in my eyes. That said, we continue to strive for a Champions League place.

Our record against Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United this season deems us worthy.

The players are under a different sort of pressure than they have grown accustomed to; fighting for the top five following a relegation escape one season prior. That, in itself, is something that still feels unfathomable, and is all the more reason we should be proud of how far the team has come.

The narrative this season has been the scarily slim gaps at the top end of the table. With just three points separating us and seventh place, every game matters. Letting go of a point in the dying minutes of a game hurts far more for this reason.

Picking up points on the road will be crucial, and there is nothing to say this can't be done on Monday against Spurs. In their current form, Tottenham should not be feared.

While a loss in concentration cost us over the weekend, there is always a period of rejuvenation with Forest - the famous bounceback we should be more than familiar with now, especially after the Brighton match.

Now is not the time to be feeling dejected. We have an FA Cup trophy and a Champions League place yet to play for.

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I saw Nottingham Forest's defeat at Aston Villa and I actually do not think much has changed in terms of what they do.

Certainly that second half, they were very good. When you look at the stats from both that defeat and the loss to Everton last weekend, they were pretty even and pretty much the same as what we have seen from from Forest all season.

They had been more clinical in previous games, and got results from low possession and minimal shots on target.

I remember saying early on, and midway through the season, that they have to remain clinical because that is why they are in the position they are.

Being without Chris Wood has not helped but I do not think they have done much different. Forest are in a position that has maybe surprised themselves but they are riding the wave.

It is exciting for them and they still have a great chance to reach the Champions League.

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Nuno's team have a good game to bounce back at the weekend against Tottenham, who will have played a big game in Europe. They then have some home fixtures that are more than winnable for them, so I they are still in a good position.

It has been a small blip if anything and Forest fans will still be in dreamland with their season and where they have come from in battling relegation last year.

From a player's point of view, it is a completely different kind of pressure from fighting to stay in the league and then being in a position to achieve something so unexpected.

Most will have never been there, but the pressure is definitely not coming from in-house.

It is difficult but I do not see Forest slipping up enough to not get into the Champions League.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

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Former Nottingham Forest defender Brian Laws says the remaining six games of the Premier League season will be a "massive test" for Nuno Espirito Santo's side after their "blooper" against Everton last weekend.

The 1-0 defeat has bunched up the Premier League table somewhat, with only three points now separating Nottingham Forest in fourth and Aston Villa in seventh.

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, Laws admitted that some of the clubs looking to get over the line and secure European football for next season are currently "on a high".

"It is going to be about who holds their nerve best - that's for sure," he added. "It will be a massive test for Forest because the chasing clubs are on a high.

"Newcastle United are playing off the back of winning the Carabao Cup. It is like they have come alive and that is a worry because it looks like they can go on and continue in that way.

"It has been like a new lease of life and it has kickstarted them probably at the most crucial time - in the last six or seven games - so they are a worry.

"Manchester City are absolutely bubbling. Chelsea have got class in their team and you know that on any given day they can win a game, but they do also have a blooper in them.

"I didn't think Forest had a blooper in them, so that Everton defeat has hurt a bit."

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