Nottingham Forest news: Sabri Lamouchi’s ‘the best’ billing shows how far Reds have come

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In the eyes of Sabri Lamouchi, Nottingham Forest “probably have the best defence” in the Championship.

That is a rather bold claim.

You would, however, expect nothing less from those at the heart of the City Ground camp.

There is also plenty of weight to support such an argument.

As things stand, Forest have been breached just 27 times in as many games this season.

A pretty impressive record.

One which makes them the standout performers in the second tier?

Leeds and Brentford, as the only two sides in the division with a better defensive record this term, may have something to say about that.

The Whites are Bees are also the only sides to have broken into double figures for clean sheets.

Forest currently have nine to their name.

Again, to shut opponents out completely in a third of all games taken in is a decent return.

Promise

Especially as the promise is there for more to come.

Lamouchi has told the Nottingham Post of the Reds’ class of 2019-20: “We don’t have the best attack. We probably have the best defence, but not the best attack.

“We need to find the right way, to be more creative and to score more. But for that, we need to find the right balance, to not be so open.

“We are defending well, but we don’t want that to change if we score more goals.”

That is the balancing act facing the Frenchman.

Since his arrival last summer, success has been built from the back.

Plugging leaks in that area is considered to be the best way of keeping the collective boat afloat.

Said approach has delivered rich rewards.

Forest sit fifth in the table with a potential shot at a top-two finish opening up in front of them.

If they are to become upwardly mobile once more, then they must remain watertight.

Lewis Grabban will always get goals at the opposite end of the field.

The hope is that further reinforcements will be acquired in the final third before the January window slams shut.

Priority

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Additions up top remain the priority – even with Adama Diakhaby now on board – as there is little work to do at the back.

Brice Samba has emerged as one of the bargains of the season and established a standing as one of the Championship’s finest keepers – if not the finest.

Matty Cash has been a revelation at right-back.

Joe Worrall has slipped seamlessly back into the fold and been an ever-present, with Michael Dawson currently alongside him in the middle of the back four.

Yuri Ribeiro represents another piece of shrewd business on the left.

Carl Jenkinson, Tobias Figueiredo and Chema Rodriguez provide alternative options and able back-up.

Looking across that group, you can see where Lamouchi is coming from.

Which helps to further highlight how far Forest have come in a short space of time.

Yes, Costel Pantilimon kept plenty of clean sheets last season, but the Reds rarely inspired confidence at the back.

There are now few chinks in the armour.

Whether they can be considered the cream of the Championship crop is a matter of personal choice, but that opinion is now held by many more than it was not all that long ago.