As Nottingham Forest look to build on the platform Premier League survival has given them, there is plenty for head coach Steve Cooper to be encouraged by.
In a rollercoaster of a season, the Reds found form at the right time to clinch safety with a game to spare. Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace then made it four unbeaten and 11 points from their final six matches, with Taiwo Awoniyi on the scoresheet for the fourth match in a row.
The summer will bring incomings and outgoings as Forest look to improve the squad in a bid to push on again. But Cooper will still have a core group of players who have shown they can cut it with the elite.
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“It has to give you a lot of encouragement,” said the Welshman. “There’s been loads of transition going on for all of us, me included, and we’ve been experiencing things for the first time.
“You have to use those experiences to get better. Sometimes that’s through difficult moments as a first experience as well. We’ve had that as well.
“Starting to see guys look really good at the level now and excel is promising. We’ve got to put all of that together and plan accordingly for next season, which we are going to look forward to doing. We’re motivated to do it as well, because we know there’s a lot of growth to be made - and we’re a club that wants to grow.
“Staying in the league has given us a real good opportunity now to build this football club even more than what we’ve done in the last two years. I, and we, are so determined to do that.
“The players need a complete rest now, and the staff around the team are the same. But for myself and others, we’ve got to make this a real productive summer so that when the guys come back they see a club that’s aiming to improve.”
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