'Forest have repeatedly faced challenges head on this season'published at 12:25 8 April
Pat Riddell
Fan writer


Injuries are not going to derail Nottingham Forest's season. Not if Nuno Espirito Santo has anything to do with it.
While the Reds might have had the fewest injuries in the Premier League so far - even with the latest additions to the list - the most recent setbacks are the most difficult ones the manager has had to deal with.
Saturday's 2-1 loss to Aston Villa showed how badly we missed Chris Wood and Ola Aina, yet for a few inches here or there, Forest could still have won the game.
We await news on Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi too, but Nuno has worked wonders this season so far and his tactical tweaks and man-management have kept this unexpected dream alive.
With seven league games and an FA Cup semi-final to come, we can only hope that a first-choice XI will be ready to face Manchester City at the end of the month, if not before. Alex Moreno will at least be available again, immediately solving the full-back dilemma for Saturday's home against Everton.
But it does not need saying again that this Forest side have repeatedly faced challenges head on this season - and repeatedly defied pundits and critics alike. It is not a squad dependent on one or two players and the rest of the team can be relied upon to deputise and step up when required.
To many, Forest might appear to be a one-trick pony - but it is one thing identifying what we do. It is another thing stopping what we do. Nuno has taken us this far with his tactical nous and there is no reason he will not continue to take us further.
Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external
