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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson

City Ground spell 'exceeds expectations' for Nottingham Forest star as new chant goes down a storm

Striker Keinan Davis says he has been "blown away" by his time on loan at Nottingham Forest.

The forward has got better and better since joining the Reds from Aston Villa on the first day of the January transfer window. And he has played an integral role as the team have climbed up the Championship table.

Saturday’s brilliant opener against Birmingham City was his fifth goal in 18 appearances in the Garibaldi, and set Steve Cooper’s side on their way to a 2-0 win which lifted them to third in the rankings. It came in front of a sold-out City Ground, with Forest backed in huge numbers both home and away this season.

Read more, here.

Read more: Forest XI to face Luton Town predicted as Steve Cooper faces key dilemma

Read more: Shakhtar Donetsk chief reveals 'big respect' for Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis

McKenna quip

It is testament to the form he has been in this season that Nottingham Forest fans now have a chant for Scott McKenna.

After the defender scored his second goal of the campaign on Saturday, the City Ground crowd chorused, ‘you’ll never beat McKenna’. But the man himself joked afterwards that the equivalent of commentator’s curse quickly befell him after that.

The 25-year-old found the back of the net late on to seal a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City for the Reds at the weekend. The three points made it five successive league wins for Steve Cooper’s side, as well as 10 Championship games unbeaten as they moved into third spot.

McKenna has been key to Forest’s rise up the table, being a mainstay of a back line which has provided a solid foundation on which to build. He has also shown an attacking side to his game in recent weeks, though, both with his goal and with an assist at Blackpool to set up Sam Surridge in the 4-1 victory.

Read more, here.

Garner challenge

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has challenged James Garner to finish the season on a high by continuing the progress he has made.

In his second spell at the City Ground, the Manchester United loanee has gone from strength to strength under Cooper. With some commanding performances in the centre of the pitch, he has been integral to the Reds’ rise up the Championship table.

On the back of impressing in the second half of last term at Forest, it took Garner a little time to get going after re-signing in the summer. He initially found himself out of the XI following the change in manager.

But he has really hit his stride of late, including netting his fourth goal of the campaign against Coventry City last week. And as his team chase promotion, Cooper wants to see the midfielder get even better.

Read more, here.

Prediction time

The Championship automatic promotion race has suddenly got a little bit more interesting thanks to Nottingham Forest’s stunning run of form.

After five league wins on the spin and a streak of 10 unbeaten, the Reds are the in-form team in the division. And they are up to third in the table.

Just six points separate them from second-placed Bournemouth, with seven matches left to play. And the two sides still have to face each other.

Have a go at our Championship predictor to see where Forest could finish. And share with us how your final table looks.

Read more, here.

Where will Forest finish in the table? Have your say in the comments below

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