Nottingham Forest midfielder James Garner has told BBC Sport that the valiant effort against Liverpool will give the Reds belief.
Forest went down 1-0 thanks to a goal from Diogo Jota 13 minutes from time on Sunday. The strike came just after Philip Zinckernagel had missed Forest’s best chance of the game.
Now, it’s back to the rigours of the league. Steve Cooper’s team have 10 games remaining and are nicely poised to reach the play-offs this season.
Garner is on loan from Manchester United and he will take great confidence from how he performed against Liverpool.
Forest were firmly in the game and on another day they might have snatched a famous victory against one of the world’s best teams.
Garner has spoken of his disappointment at not reaching the semi-finals but says the game will give the team confidence.
He told BBC Sport: “We gave them a good game and we’re proud of ourselves.
“The fans were amazing. Even when we went 1-0 down, they were still signing. They were there from minute one until the 90th minute.
“I’m gutted. I hope it’s brought belief to the fans because it’s definitely brought belief to us.”
Garner can lead Forest to glory
The Reds must pick themselves up and perhaps the international break has now come at the perfect time for Forest.
Garner has been superb for months and he looks on course for a genuine shot of staking his claim for a place at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old helped Forest take six points from two games against Reading and QPR, with Sunday’s game something of a free hit.
Having taken Liverpool so close, however, it’s a tough one to take that Forest were so near, yet so far from upsetting Jurgen Klopp’s men.
This season has lots of miles left in it though and Garner can still lead Forest to glory.
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