Head coach Steve Cooper hopes Nottingham Forest are building momentum at the right time as the season’s end approaches.
Three points against Southampton amid an electric atmosphere at the City Ground lifted the Reds out of the relegation zone. Monday night’s dramatic 4-3 victory saw them jump to 16th spot, three points clear of the bottom three with three games to go.
It was the perfect way to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Brentford, when Forest let a lead slip and conceded twice in the final 10 minutes to lose 2-1. And with a trip to Chelsea next up, Cooper believes maintaining good performance levels will be key to beating the drop.
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“We feel like we are playing OK,” said the Welshman. “We have won two games in three. You always want consecutive wins, but where we are, that is not easy to do. To win two in three is a real positive thing.
“It just gives us a little bit more confidence and momentum to just go into the next one. For sure, we are going to need more points and more positive results.
“It is a massive win and an important win, but it will be even bigger if we build on it. That has to be the plan from now.
“We will start the cycle of putting one game to bed and preparing for the next one. No days off and the work ethic has to be at its maximum in giving the players everything they need to be ready for the next game.
“I actually think we’ve been playing OK, if you look at Anfield and then Brighton. Brentford was a tough defeat for the guys; for all of us. It was probably the toughest we’ve had this year.
“At the time I was thinking about how we just wanted to get back out and play again. But actually, that time helped.
“The first couple of days there was a slight hangover - which is OK, there’s nothing wrong with that. We had a couple of training days and a day off, then when the guys came back and we really got into the prep, the spirit was back to how it’s always been.
“It’s been an up and down season, but one thing I’ve never seen is a lack of togetherness in the group. There is a real will to achieve. I thought we saw that tonight.”
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