Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Matt Davies

Jesse Lingard 'epitomises' Nottingham Forest as message sent on big Steve Cooper decision

Nottingham Forest are off the bottom of the Premier League after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in their final game before the World Cup break.

The Reds are up to 18th after Morgan Gibbs-White got the only goal of the game at the City Ground as he lined up alongside Jesse Lingard and Brennan Johnson in attack.

Plenty of fans wanted to see Sam Surridge start the game as we discussed team selection and much more on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast with Matt Davies, Michael Temple and BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray. You can listen to the full episode here or watch it here. Here is part of the conversation.

READ MORE: Jesse Lingard opens up on 'turning point' and battles at Man United

READ MORE: Djed Spence theory emerges for Nottingham Forest as Tottenham urged to seal £26m transfer

Is the front three selected vs Palace sustainable for the rest of the season home and away?

MT: "Surridge deserved a start. I'm not going to change what I said before the match as that's a cop out. Given what happened on Wednesday and the profile of player I felt we needed, he deserved a start.

"Having said that, we've won 1-0 and seen that combination of Gibbs-White, Brennan and Jesse Lingard click. There was chance early on when Johnson shoots and Lingard slides in at the back post.

"Then the Gibbs-White cross, Johnson lay-off and Lingard shot. They're getting an understanding and are good at one touch/two touch.

"You can seee why Cooper wants to pick them as they can all be match winners. They're good problems. We want people clamouring to get in the side after wins. I'm delighted it worked, but a bit surprised Surridge didn't start.

"Steve Cooper has two or three times taken players out of the side when they need a rest, like he did with Brennan. Credit to Cooper. He's been brutal in certain circumstances but also put players in when they're ready."

CF: "It might be different away from home. When the team was announced there was a lot of 'they can't play together' but the manager sees them in training. He's seen Morgan Gibbs-White have his best game against Brentford.

"Jesse Lingard had his best game against Spurs so you can't really drop them and Brennan Johnson is starting to click into gear in the Premier League now.

"He's getting to be a real threat. If you are seeing these three in good individual form, it's hard to see anyone else force their way in, including Sam Surridge. He's been superb whenever called upon.

"Full credit to him but when you have that three - and I know it's a bit different without a striker - but it's hard to leave them out. Away from home might be a different but as long as the three keep their form, it's exciting"

Are we seeing the best of Lingard now? He looks a lot happier than in early games

MD: "I'm really warming to Jesse Lingard as a player and a bloke. He came in with a reputation and when you don't watch players closely you get sucked in, but when you watch him play, he looks fitter and he's well into it. He's buying in."

MT: "He loves football and he loves life. I didn't read him as arrogant when he came in. Some players will play golf for four hours after training. He likes to dance and wear baggy clothes. That's fine.

"He can only run around for two hours a day with a ball. His train spotting clip was fantastic. It showed him as human. He certainly catches fire and when he's on form you see an infectious enjoyment and confidence in him His stock has risen in the last two weeks.

"You can argue he's our most talented player and we need that form to continue."

CF: "He's the epitome of Forest really. His form has kind of mirrored the team. It's taken him a while to get into it and to know his teammates. Now you see them all come into a bit of form. I don't think that's coincidental. It's to do with hard work in training and players gelling."

Can the same front three play together for the rest of the season? Have your say in the comments section below

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.