Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Samba Sow believes there is “something different” about this Reds team as they chase promotion to the Premier League.
The 33-year-old, who left the City Ground last summer after two years at the club, was part of the side which came agonisingly close to making the play-offs under Sabri Lamouch. And he admits that final day agony against Stoke City still plays on his mind, with Sow having been forced off early on in the 4-1 defeat due to a knee injury.
Two years on and Steve Cooper’s group are now 90 minutes away from the top-flight as they prepare to face Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Sunday. Sow is confident they have what it takes.
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"It's a fantastic achievement. It's great to see Forest in the play-off final and have the opportunity to go to the Premier League,” he told Nottinghamshire Live.
"Everybody who has played for Forest or has even visited Nottingham wants them to be there. I think Nottingham Forest's place is in the Premier League. I just pray and cross fingers, do everything to see them there. The main place for Forest is in the Premier League, for sure.
"I think they can do it. When you watch this team from the beginning since the new coach came in, there has been a big change. They showed in the last game that even though it was difficult, they have enough power to beat any team.
"It's the final, you don't need to calculate it, you just have to go there and play the game. Hopefully they will do it. I will be happy to see them in the Premier League.
"The first year when I was there is not the same as this year. Even though they didn't start the season well, this year is different. Since the new coach came in, there is something different.
"I always think about that game (against Stoke). You cannot forget about it. I was so frustrated because I was injured. I wanted to play every game, but my knee was injured so I didn't have chance to help the team.
“We wanted to achieve the same thing, to get to the play-offs. We had the quality as well. But that's life, and that's football. That's why it would be really, really good to see them get to the Premier League. Everybody in Nottingham dreams about it.
"Everywhere you could see what it would mean. You could sense it with everybody around the club and around Nottingham - even when you leave. When you go anywhere, when you're in Africa and say Nottingham, people know where it is because of the football club. That's why I say their place is in the Premier League.”
