Nottingham Forest will look to turn their recent comeback draws into wins on Saturday, and as the team undoubtedly work hard on the training ground, I take a look at what has changed the Reds fortune recently.

There have been many positive changes for all around the club to take in since the arrival of Steve Cooper at the City Ground; the main and arguably paramount being the complete turnaround in form. Cooper’s run as boss now stands at eight games with four wins and only one defeat. But now that loving feeling is building around the City Ground again, what is behind the feeling of a growing resurgence for sleeping giants, Nottingham Forest.

Steve Cooper’s managerial history has been widely spoken about since his arrival at the club but it is important to look back at what he has already achieved and what this means as he looks to lay the foundations for Forest’s future under this new regime. Cooper has been involved in both the Liverpool and England National Team youth setups; taking charge of 74 matches for England U-17 and averaging 2.24 points-per-game. Since then, Cooper has managed Swansea at club level and took them to the 2019/20 Play-Off Semi-Finals and 2020/21 Play-Off Finals where they lost out to Brentford on both occasions.

During his career so far, Cooper has been known to put his trust into young players and play positive, forward-moving football. Something which not only Forest fans have been crying out to see, but Forest’s wide range of attacking, creative players have been longing for that freedom to show expression. The likes of Joe Lolley, Brennan Johnson, Phillip Zinckernagel, Alex Mighten all waiting for the opportunity to show their ability. As well as our former deeply rooted full backs now moving into wing back positions and really pushing forward, overlapping and playing at times like extra wingers. Not only is this football that the fans want to see, but also that the players look excited to be involved in.

Since the start of his tenure at the club, Cooper’s rapport with the forest fans has been second to none. Speaking after his first game in charge of the Reds; a 1-1 draw at home to Millwall, Cooper spoke on the ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ chant and the home fans. “I think I ended up looking more at the supporters than the pitch. It’s powerful isn’t it, but we’ve got to give them something to sing even louder, and I’m just so committed to doing that.” And as in so many interviews, Cooper renewed his pledge to the fans. Following on from last night’s draw against Sheffield United the 41-year-old explained “We are doing our very best to connect with the fans, with the city and I’ve said all along I want people to see this team and be proud of them and sometimes when things are a little bit unfair and against you, we aren’t going to accept it and we’re going to fight like mad.”

One thing that is really striking under this new Nottingham Forest era is the rarely seen before ‘never say die’ attitude. Highlighted in the last two games, against Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United, both with late equalisers securing a point for the Reds, as well as the unbelievable fight back against Bristol City seeing Lyle Taylor score in the 90^th and 91^st minute to secure all three points for the Reds.

This isn’t the only example of this though. Our only defeat so far under the new Head Coach came against automatic promotion hopefuls Fulham, in the way of a 4-0 thumping at home. Although the score line was disappointing, the Reds did not let their heads drop. They kept looking for opportunities to break the Fulham back line throughout the game and even at 4-0 down as Lolley’s free kick was saved excellently by Marek Rodak and Johnson came agonisingly close to netting a consolation from close range.

To bounce back from a score-line like that, in only five days would take some work on the training ground, and with all due respect, following that defeat and then going one-nil down away at QPR on the stroke of half-time, the odds would be heavily stacked against most Forest squads of recent seasons in that position. But onlooking fans in West London knew that this side would be capable of a comeback, and they did just that, the unlikely scorer – Jack Colback’s deflected effort firing home in front of 2,885 jubilant travelling supporters.

“We’ve got to give them something to sing even louder, and I’m just so committed to doing that.”

Steve Cooper after a 1-1 draw with Millwall in his first game as Head Coach.

A similar situation rose again last night, against Sheffield United. Morgan Gibbs White poked the visitors in front in the 78^th minute on Trentside shortly after questionable penalty decision on Brennan Johnson by Leigh Doughty, and gaffer Steve Cooper being booked on the touchline, it would have been easy for the Reds to get angry, disheartened and like we have so many previous teams do, go on to lose their heads and lose the game. But no, Forest used this to spur them on to an equaliser only five minutes later as bagsman Lewis Grabban’s finish started the chants of ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’ bellowing around the City Ground again.

“We are doing our very best to connect with the fans, with the city… I want people to see this team and be proud of them.”

Steve Cooper following The Reds 1-1 draw with Sheffield United on Trentside

So, with results turning around, exciting football being played and Head Coach Steve Cooper recognising the importance of; and connecting with the fans, can this new regime be of legitimate reason for the Forest faithful to dare to dream about bigger things coming Forest’s way? Forest next face Preston at home as they will look to build on their recent, exhilarant comebacks and look to turn draws into a win. (Whilst keeping their fingers crossed for better refereeing decisions *wink wink*).

*Article provided by Matthew Benton-Smith (Sports Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC Jack Colback and Joe Worrall celebrate against QPR.