West Ham United manager David Moyes drew similarities to Leeds United when discussing Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League. Two years ago, the Whites ended a 16-year exile from the top flight when they secured promotion under Marcelo Bielsa.
After an excellent debut campaign back in the big time, Leeds suffered second-season syndrome but survived by the narrowest of margins of the final day. Solidifying his side as an established Premier League outfit is top of Jesse Marsch’s to-do list.
Leeds’ decade and a half in the footballing wilderness was rookie numbers compared to what Forest fans have endured. Despite winning back-to-back European cups in 1979 and 1980, the Reds were relegated from the top flight in 1999.
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The motto “you’re never too big to go down” certainly rings true for Leeds’ and Forest’s plight. Ahead of West Ham’s trip to the City Ground, Moyes compared the occasion to when the Whites were promoted in 2020.
“It’s been a great club (Forest) over many, many years,” Moyes said pre-match. “Nottingham Forest’s support is fantastic. I don’t think there will be any football fan in the UK who wouldn’t know the names Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest.
“Half of us can probably name the team that they had in the two finals, incredible football history. It was great that we got Leeds United back in the Premier League a couple of years ago.
“I think it’s also great that Nottingham Forest are back in the division as well. But my job is to try and beat them and that is what I’m concentrating on.”
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