Skipper Joe Worrall has called on Nottingham Forest fans to stick by the players in the tough times which come with promotion to the Premier League.
The defender has stressed the difference Reds supporters can make, recalling the part the City Ground crowd played in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Sheffield United last season. On that occasion, when the visitors drew level on aggregate on the night, a great roar erupted from the stands. That backing saw Steve Cooper’s side survive extra-time and triumph in a penalty shootout to book their place at Wembley.
Making the step up to the top-flight has been an adjustment. Forest have lost their last three matches and sit 19th in the table, with four points from their first six games.
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A second half collapse at home to Bournemouth last time out ended in a 3-2 defeat, with the final whistle met by a few boos. Worrall says it is when the Reds come up against their biggest challenges that they need their fans the most.
“The moment for me which really sparked something last season, was the reaction to Sheffield United scoring - our fans were louder than theirs. When they scored, the whole stadium lifted and picked us up,” he told the Premier League’s Big Interview.
“There wasn’t a sigh, it was, ‘right, come on, come on you Reds, come on Forest’, above Sheffield United fans celebrating. For me, that will stick in the memory for years and years. That’s what got us over the line.
“I firmly believe that the city is special, the club is special. They are a huge, huge reason why we are sat in the Premier League.”
Worrall added: “We’re under no illusions. The last 12 months, Forest are used to winning games - as a club, as players. I’m used to winning football matches, and the manager is. The players around us are.
“As a dressing room, we’ve got a really good winning mentality. But we understand that in the Premier League, things are different.
“You come up against teams who are on a different level. But this is what we work for. This is why I was annoyed at going on loan at Rangers, this is why I went on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge, to play against this calibre of player.
“A lot of people will go, ‘Forest aren’t good enough to play in the Premier League, they’ve spent £120m, they’re not Forest anymore, they’re backed by the money’ and all that stuff. All the outside noise doesn’t faze us as a group of players or as a club.
“I think we have to be realistic. But first and foremost, we have to get our head down and work.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you spend or how many players you bring in, you’ve got no divine right to compete and play well in the Premier League. It’s got to come from us.
“That comes down to the players. But the fans as well. We need to stick by each other.
“The players will always stick by the fans, I’ll make sure of that. And I need the fans to stick by us players, because there will be some tough, tough moments this season.
“There will be some jubilation, too. But it’s during the tough times that you need each other to lean on - whether that be conceding a goal against Sheffield United and the fans cheering, or us taking one in the face on the line or whatever. It works hand in hand. I think that’s something which is special about the Forest fans, because on the whole, they’re very good.”
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