Victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup was the best possible preparation for Nottingham Forest's return to Premier League action - and not just because of the result.
In their first game back after the World Cup break, the Reds progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition with a confidence-boosting 4-1 win at Ewood Park. But, for head coach Steve Cooper, acknowledging the aspects of the performance he wasn’t so happy with is just as important.
The visitors were left to rue not making the most of a glut of chances when Rovers cancelled out a Brennan Johnson penalty just before the break. Cooper's side showed more of a clinical edge in the second half, however, with Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi getting on the scoresheet before Johnson bagged his second of the night.
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It sets Forest up nicely for their trip to Manchester United next Tuesday, which marks the resumption of their league campaign. But they know they will have to step it up another level, if they are to return from Old Trafford with anything to show for their efforts.
"Looking at how the game went, and some of the bits which weren't quite at the level, I'm glad it was this one, respectfully, than the next game. That's going to be a ruthless environment and one where we have to be perfect in the game, no doubt about that," Cooper said.
"If there were some bits where the players need to remind themselves of where they need to be, then I'd much rather address them after this one, in preparation for the next game. The positives outweigh the negatives, but we've learnt quickly in the Premier League how elite it is. You have to be at a certain level all the time, otherwise you don't get anything out of it.”
He continued: "I really liked Brennan and T. I said at half-time, I really like it, apart from the obvious - creating and scoring. That continued, really, up until T's goal.
"You keep getting in there, keep trying and if you're a good enough player, the goals will come. In the end, T has scored and Brennan has got two, so they've done the job.
"We haven't played properly for a while. We scored two against Valencia (in a friendly), which was good, and could have scored some more, although the game was very different to this one.
"We need players that have got to step up. We have had a lot of individual conversations with all of the players throughout the break, and have set them some challenges and goals. For attacking players, there's loads of things, but that will always include numbers up the pitch, in creating and scoring. For sure, we are going to need that off those guys.”
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