Nottingham Forest

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  1. 'Morgan made a rash decision' - Woodpublished at 16:15 22 September

    Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his penalty during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Amex Stadium Image source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood has been speaking to Sky Sports following the draw: "It is always good to get something out of the game when coming away from home in the Premier League. Brighton is a tough place to come, they are a good side.

    "In the manner of how the game has played out, at times we deserved the point, but we had to work hard for the point as well."

    On the three red cards: "I would have to see the challenge back, I haven't seen it. It is one of those, Morgan has made a rash decision and we have to move on with that. The managers will have to come and comment on that - that is what they do.

    "Everyone wants to win and fight in the Premier League and points are hard to come by."

    Failing to capitalise on the lead: "We got into the lead well and they weren't causing us too many problems until the goal went in. Then we went on a down spell and they had a good spell. They are a good side, and that's how it goes.

    "Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalise on it but we have a strong character in the group, fought back and scored a lovely goal to equalise."

  2. Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Nottingham Forestpublished at 11:31 22 September

    Sutton's predictions graphic

    Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week five, he takes on singer-songwriter and West Ham fan James Smith whose debut album, Common People, is out now.

    Brighton host Nottingham Forest on Sunday at 14:00 BST...

    Sutton's prediction: 1-1

    It is hard to predict a defeat for Nottingham Forest now because they were so good at Liverpool and their backline of Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Alex Moreno and Ola Aina were just tremendous.

    Forest also had James Ward-Prowse just sitting in front of their back four ticking things over and Ryan Yates alongside him getting on everyone's nerves with his tenacity.

    Their substitutes came on and impacted the game at Anfield as well and the whole team had such composure.

    So, while I look at Brighton and think they are capable of scoring, based on what I saw from Forest, why would I say they will lose?

    I don't think Brighton will lose at home either, so I am really sorry, but I am going to have to go for another draw.

    James's prediction: 2-2

    This is an interesting one... they have both started well, so I am going to go for another draw.

  3. Owner Marinakis on aspirations for Forestpublished at 12:40 21 September

    Media caption,

    Evangelos Marinakis: Nottingham Forest owner on his aspirations for Reds

    Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis talks to BBC East Midlands about his hopes for a 50,000-seat redevelopment at the City Ground and future aspirations for the Reds.

    Read more about Forest's stadium plans here.

  4. 'Present in us every day' - Nuno on Cloughpublished at 20:03 20 September

    Brian Clough flags held in stand by Forest fansImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo credits former Reds manager Brian Clough for giving the club "the mentality of knowing that anything is possible in football".

    It has been 20 years since club legend Clough died at the age of 69 in 2004.

    During his 18-year spell with Forest, he took them from Division Two to winning the First Division title in 1978, followed by two consecutive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980 and four League Cup trophies.

    "It is present in us every day. We go around the club and we see how Brian Clough was important for Forest," Nuno told BBC Radio Nottingham.

    "What he achieved and how things change. The mentality of knowing that anything is possible in football and that is credit to Brian and the players of that fantastic moment.

    "There is so much to learn if you go deeper and try to understand the evolution of the game. [Arrigo] Sacchi, for example, and his great Milan team, in Portugal with Sporting, Real Madrid. If you go deep and understand how the game has evolved and now is going back again it is curious.

    "But of course, me personally I try to go 30 or 40 years back and you can still find some videos and footage. You can see what football players did then because they played with freedom."

    Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

  5. 'It's important we know that history repeats' - Marinakis on Clough's successpublished at 18:44 20 September

    Brian CloughImage source, Getty Images

    Two decades on from his passing, Brian Clough remains a football icon and one who Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis says continues to influence the club he elevated to footballing folklore.

    "You had someone, Brian Clough, who inspired the players to outperform, who inspired the crowds to be there to support the team everywhere, and when he spoke he talked about things that they could never imagine," Marinakis told BBC East Midlands Today.

    "It was the way he was talking that made you think it was possible and that it was normal - and this charisma, very few people have it, that is why they have made the difference over the years. Brian was one of them.

    "It's very important that if a team has such history and tradition, they know history repeats."

    "He brought people joy in life by showing what can be achieved," said John McGovern, who played under Clough at four clubs and who was captain at Forest when they won back-to-back European Cups.

    "There are managers that have better records, but if you look at the time it took him to bring success at football clubs, nobody did it quicker."

    That journey began in the Fourth Division at Hartlepools United (now Hartlepool United), then started to morph into something truly special as he guided Derby County to promotion from the Second Division in 1969 and then to a remarkable first English title just three years later.

    A falling-out with the Rams board led to his departure, with a stint at Brighton and Hove Albion followed by his 44-day spell as Leeds United boss, before he started an 18-year footballing love affair with Forest - which most famously saw the Reds rise from the second tier to be crowned First Division champions before conquering Europe, all within three years between 1977 and 1979.

    At Forest, where he eventually retired following relegation from the Premier League in 1993, Clough also collected four League Cups, a European Super Cup and a Charity Shield.

    Watch Clough - 20 Years On, which celebrates the legendary manager 20 years after his passing

  6. Dyche remembers Clough 20 years onpublished at 17:53 20 September

    Brian CloughImage source, Getty Images

    Everton manager Sean Dyche has paid tribute to legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough, who died 20 years ago today, at the age of 69.

    Dyche was an apprentice and young professional on the books at Forest between 1987 and 1990, and tells of recognising "genius" in the way Clough dealt with players, approached matches and set sides up tactically.

    "When I became a manager, I started reflecting back," said the Everton boss. "As a person and footballer, I learned so much during that period of my life.

    "When the boss spoke, you were listening. He had this amazing thing that when he told you that you did well, you just felt 10ft tall and couldn't fit through the door, but if he told you that you didn't, you could go under the door with a top hat on."

    Clough did more than just try to mould Dyche as a footballer of the future, with a list of odd jobs also handed out to emerging players.

    Running a bath for Clough was a regular occurrence - with Dyche admitting he stressed about never knowing how hot to make it - while tending to the garden at the manager's house was also part of "silly, mad stuff" he would get up to.

    Not that it always went to plan for Dyche, who was almost always referred to as "young ginger" by Clough.

    "He once asked me to get rid of five bags of leaves, green leaves," Dyche said. "When I was a kid. I used to love a fire in the woods and I know green leaves are not going to burn very well.

    "I'm at the bottom of his garden and he says: 'Young ginger, get rid of these leaves for me darling. I’ll help you start a fire and you can get rid of them for me'.

    "He starts it off and goes back up, and he used to make us food - more food than you could imagine - so I'm putting these leaves on and thinking it isn't going to work. Then the wind starts blowing towards the kitchen and I'm going, 'oh no'.

    "He comes out and says: 'Young ginger, get that smoke out my kitchen or I'm going to throw you on the fire'.

    "I'm now putting one leaf on at a time and I have five bags, and I’m thinking this is going to be a long afternoon. And I hear him again and I say: 'But boss I can't help it, they are green leaves'. Then he went: 'You are right, well done' and just went back in.

    "One minute I'm shaking, then I'm thinking he is all right now.

    "As a character, he most certainly broke the mould."

    Watch Brian Clough - 20 years on, celebrating the man who put Nottingham Forest into football folklore

  7. Nuno on Boly, owner ambitions and attacking playpublished at 15:08 20 September

    Josh Lobley
    BBC Sport researcher

    Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League trip to Brighton (kick-off 14:00 BST).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • He was unable to give positive injury updates: "The same players are out. [Willy] Boly is really close to joining the group. Unfortunately, Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo are out for a while.

    • On Evangelos Marinakis' ambitions for the club: "It drives everybody. He's the biggest authority in the club, so his ambition is what guides us. He wants to make this club grow and make it stable. If it [the City Ground] has 50,000, great. As long as it's here. That is what drives us. This goes from the owner to everyone at the training ground. Everyone has to commit themselves and be aware they are part of something that wants to grow. We need all on board."

    • After being told his Forest side have had more 'direct attacks' than any other Premier League side this season: "I think we are creating a lot of things [but] we still have to improve accuracy. Sometimes the last pass or finish isn't good. The idea reflects the stats - we want to go forward and attack."

    • On the fixture schedule: "We have to consider the people that decide the schedule. I know how hard it is to find dates, especially with the international dates. But we cannot forget the game is played by footballers and we have to respect the player. It's very difficult to play a game when you have less than 48 or 72 hours. If you repeat this over and over, then problems appear and the level of the game decreases. Let's try to protect the players."

    • On Sunday's opponents: "They are a very good team with good players and a good manager. They have started well. We have to compete very well with them."

    • More on the Albion: "Brighton make more offsides for their opponents than any other Premier League team. That shows how hard it is to play them. They are aggressive and have a lot of talent. They play possession football that is really difficult to play against."

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

    Listen to full commentary of Brighton v Nottingham Forest from 14:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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  8. 'We could fill a 50,000 capacity stadium' - Marinakispublished at 09:30 20 September

    Evangelos Marinakis watching a match at the City groundImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been speaking about his plans for the City Ground on the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast: "What we need to do is have a bigger stadium. The first priority is to do it at the City Ground - that's where the team belongs and where the tradition is.

    "We have a lot of supporters and a huge waiting list for season tickets. I'm sure a 50,000 [capacity] stadium would be full to watch the team.

    "This is important for the team, and most importantly for Nottingham. This is something I want to finalise, and have one of the best stadiums in England for years to come. This is my prime target right now."

    Marinakis also owns Olympiakos, who became the first Greek side to win a European trophy last season and he is eyeing continental football for Forest: "Why not? We did it for the first time ever. We were the underdogs. Why not with Nottingham Forest? We have what is needed to go all the way, but the first target is playing well in the Premier League.

    "If Europe comes, it's something we will look to perform in."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  9. Did you know?published at 09:02 20 September

    Brighton and Nottingham Forest players confront referee Michael SalisburyImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton are unbeaten so far in the Premier League this season – they have never remained without defeat in their first five games of a top-flight season, last doing so in any division in the 2015-16 Championship season.

    Nottingham Forest have an equal record to their hosts, winning two and drawing two so far this season. The last time they opened a season without defeat in their first five games was in the 2018-19 season in the Championship. In the top flight, it has not happened since the 1995-96 season.

  10. Aina explains viral egg videopublished at 08:13 20 September

    Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-OdoiImage source, Getty Images

    Ola Aina spoke to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about his viral 'egg' video, external: "It's just a little changing-room joke. Callum [Hudson-Odoi] really loves boiled eggs. He loves eggs in general but boiled eggs is one of his favourites!

    "It makes it more funny because it's known that Ghanaians really love eggs, so to see him eat them every day, we just mock him a little bit.

    On the victory against Liverpool, Aina added: "It was a really good day for the club and the team. It was about hard work, Liverpool are a fantastic team and we had to stay in the game as long as possible.

    "The mood is really good - we are just building on from last season. There's definitely a different feel at the club right now and we just want to build on the performance each week."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  11. 'Players need to be listened to'published at 08:05 20 September

    Fara Williams, BBC Sport columnist banner
    Player receives treatment for injuryImage source, Getty Images

    The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.

    First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.

    I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.

    From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.

    The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.

    We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.

    None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?

    Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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  12. 🎧 Remembering Clough, Marinakis on the City Ground and Aina on eggspublished at 07:21 20 September

    Shut Up And Show More Football podcast graphic

    The latest episode of the 'Shut Up And Show More Football' podcast has landed.

    Club owner Evangelos Marinakis talks about plans for the City Ground while BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray asks Ola Aina about eggs after the Nigeria midfielder offered to give 1,000 eggs to Callum Hudson-Odoi as reward for his winner against Liverpool last weekend.

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  13. 'Nuno has been given the tools to do what we did on Saturday'published at 12:32 17 September

    Pat Riddell
    Fan writer

    Nottingham Forest fan's voice banner
    Callum Hudson OdoiImage source, Getty Images

    It is easy to get lost in the euphoria of Saturday. Somehow Nottingham Forest had gone 55 years without winning at Anfield - and yet we shouldn’t really focus too much on beating Liverpool in their own back yard.

    Yes, it is a landmark. Yes, it is a long-standing record. Yes, not so long ago our bogey grounds were places like Barnsley and Rotherham. And yes, we should definitely celebrate it and enjoy it.

    But the underlying story is the circumstances that made this possible. The gradual progression of a club that some people (again) had down for relegation at the start of the season - make no mistake, avoiding the drop is still our first goal for 2024-25 - and the mission to be winning away at other grounds nobody is expecting us to get anything from.

    In our first season back in the Premier League we lost 6-0 at Manchester City and 5-0 at Arsenal. Last season, the results were a lot more competitive in most games, if not closer. But beating the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham is now something we have done in recent years.

    And I have no doubt owner Evangelos Marinakis would concur that if we are to further progress, then the mentality must not be that of a plucky, small club feeding off scraps, but of a club that deserves to be at the top table with results to match.

    The strategic transfer window this summer, and keeping the core of the squad together, has given the manager Nuno Espirito Santo the tools to do what we did on Saturday.

    Being able to carry out a gameplan that involved being solid in midfield, before bringing on players with the quality of matchwinner Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, proves the strength in depth we have now as well as the understanding and unity throughout the team.

    Of course, the fact remains that Liverpool rarely lose at home - and this season it was finally our turn.

    Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

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  14. Sutton predicts 'comfortable mid-table' finishpublished at 12:18 17 September

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    Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Nottingham Forest will be a "mid-table team" this season, as the Reds continued their unbeaten Premier League start with an "impressive" performance against Liverpool.

    Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "To be able to bring players of that quality off the bench - who are game changers - is a massive positive.

    "They now have strength and depth in the squad, but it has taken some building and it has cost Nottingham Forest a lot of money to assemble their squad.

    "I think they will be a comfortable mid-table team this season, on the basis of one game at Liverpool, but their performance was that impressive."

    Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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  15. 'Nuno's reputation has been unduly affected by that unhappy stint at Spurs'published at 09:48 17 September

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    The Monday Night Club panel were full of praise for Nottingham Forest and head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after Saturday's fine win over Liverpool at Anfield continued their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

    "They have plenty of options, a better squad, a stronger squad," said former Newcastle United and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given.

    "How many opposition managers do you see go to Anfield, it's 0-0 after an hour and they're putting on an extra midfielder and shutting up the shop with an extra defender ? He's gone: 'Hang on, I can smell something here, something even more successful.'

    "He thought: 'We can make history today. I'm going to roll the dice.' He put two quick wingers on and tried and win the game. He deserves so much credit because so many managers, from so many different clubs, go to the big clubs and are happy with a draw. He's thought the opposite and went and won the game."

    After guiding Forest to safety last season despite a four point deduction, New York Times journalist Rory Smith believes Nuno can bring similar success to that which he brought to Wolves during his four years at Molineux.

    "To an extent, Nuno's reputation has been unduly affected by that short, unhappy stint at Spurs," added Smith. "Nuno did really, really well at Wolves. He's taken a team that wasn't dissimilar in terms of the squad to Forest.

    "The way he made Wolves a well-established Premier League team was making them hard to beat, solid with two or three injections of real quality. And if you look at Forest, there's that similar sort of blueprint.

    "Nuno is a really good manager at getting those sorts of teams results and I wonder if we've forgotten that a little bit because it didn't work out for him at Spurs."

    Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

    Forest fans, what do you think has made the difference so far this season?

    We want to know your thoughts - is it Nuno's management, the summer transfer business, good fortune or something else?

    Send us your suggestions here, external

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