Rarely does a press conference pass by without Steve Cooper being quizzed on the number of signings Nottingham Forest have made and the challenges of getting his team to gel.
Still, three games into the season - and with more transfer business being planned - the Reds are showing signs of progression. Just as they grew into the match against Everton on Saturday, the hope is they will continue to do the same on a wider scale in the Premier League.
Being disappointed with a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park is telling of Forest’s mentality under Cooper and of how they played after riding out a tough opening 15 minutes. “We should have won, shouldn’t we? We were the better team,” Cooper said afterwards.
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“It’s a poor goal to concede, and we shouldn’t be conceding it at this level. But let’s not lose sight of the good things we did as well.”
Battle of the keepers
“England’s number one,” the travelling fans roared in the direction of goalkeeper Dean Henderson. That was followed by a cheeky rendition of “England’s number two” aimed at his opposite number, Jordan Pickford.
Henderson was superb again for Forest. Keep up the kind of form he’s shown early on this term and he could yet prove to be Cooper’s most important signing of the summer.
The Manchester United loanee made some terrific saves against the Toffees, twice thwarting Anthony Gordon, as well as denying Demarai Gray and Mason Holgate. It was just a shame the afternoon didn’t end with what would have been a deserved clean-sheet.
Cooper had spoken at length about Henderson in the build-up to the match, following his starring role against West Ham United. "If he does well for us, which we hope he does, then there are a lot of people benefitting from it but the most important is himself and Nottingham Forest,” the manager had said, when questioned on United’s decision to allow the 25-year-old to leave on loan. Based on the early signs, he could be worth a good few points to the Reds over the course of the campaign.
Off the mark
After VAR denied him his first Premier League goal last weekend, there was no such frustration for Brennan Johnson this time around. It was a proud moment for the youngster as he opened his account in the top-flight - marked with trademark bow-and-arrow celebration.
Johnson supplied a delightful cushioned finish after Pickford had pushed away a strike from Ryan Yates, showing quick reactions and a cool head. He’d had a fairly quiet game prior to that, and is still growing into the season, but he was on hand and perfectly-composed to make the most of a key moment when it mattered. Good players do exactly that. It won’t be the last time he finds the back of the net at this level.
The goal finished off a lovely passing move by the visitors which had Jesse Lingard and Yates at the heart of it. The latter made a difference when he came off the bench, as did Morgan Gibbs-White, both showing real intent to make something happen.
A win would have been deserved, too. Forest had worked their way into the game and shown a desire to get the three points - not least with Cooper’s positive substitutions.
They might have made the breakthrough in the first half had Taiwo Awoniyi displayed a little more composure with a couple of inviting opportunities. But there was still plenty for the manager to be pleased about, despite the frustration of a late leveller.
Pegged back
The Reds’ lead lasted just seven minutes. Cooper was clearly not happy at being unable to see the game out after Johnson’s goal came in the 81st minute.
Forest were caught out by a long ball from Pickford, with Gray nerveless as he showed a nice touch and slotted his shot beyond Henderson. Having kept the hosts at bay when under pressure at other times in the game, it was a disappointing goal to concede.
Skipper Joe Worrall has since come in for a fair bit of criticism on social media. But while the defender didn’t have the best of games, surely it’s wrong to write him off just three matches in?
No question Worrall had some sticky moments, up against tough opposition, on Saturday. He won’t be the only one who that applies to over the course of this season. But he also made some important blocks and picked himself up, rather than let an early booking affect him. He was progressive in his passing, too - a big part of how Cooper likes to play.
The Premier League is ruthless. Individually and collectively, this team is learning on the job and taking steps forward. Worrall would be the first to acknowledge there is plenty of room for improvement.
Encouraging debut
A long transfer chase came to an end on Friday, when Gibbs-White finally sealed a move to the City Ground. Cooper was always unlikely to change his team too much at Goodison Park - that’s not his style - so the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man found himself on the bench.
He did enough in his fairly short time on the pitch, however, to demonstrate why the Reds manager was so keen to land his signature. There was plenty for travelling supporters to be excited about.
A terrific bit of play almost as soon as he came on showcased what Gibbs-White is all about. He’ll get fans off their seats, he’ll get at the opposition and he’ll want to get on the ball.
If he was bothered by the initial £25m price tag, it didn’t show. He got stuck in straight away.
Forest have a wealth of attacking talent now. Indeed, a strong bench was a real takeaway from Saturday - something Cooper acknowledged he’d noted about Newcastle United in the opening game. He has frequently talked, too, about having strength in depth in his squad.
Trying to fit the likes of Gibbs-White, Lingard, Johnson and Awoniyi - as well as Sam Surridge and Emmanuel Dennis, who has yet to get on the pitch - into his team will now be the challenge for the Welshman. But a good one to have.
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