Rewind two years ago, Nottingham Forest are bottom of the Championship with Steve Cooper coming in to replace the outgoing Chris Hughton.
His impact was instant and historic, people talk about Cooper taking us from the bottom of the Championship but this wasn’t a team that was unlucky to be there, it was fully deserved, to see that same team with a couple of changes walk out at Wembley seven months later was beyond belief.
I don’t think anyone could’ve imagined in their wildest dreams that Forest would be sat 8th in the Premier League, after spending over £200 million throughout the last 12 months.
The job that Cooper has done in changing on-field performances, whilst uniting the fanbase and giving them a reason to love the club again is nothing short of sensational.
Five best games during Steve Cooper’s tenure at the City Ground
There are so many games that we could’ve possibly chosen, but here is our list of the five best games under boss Cooper during the last two years…
5. Forest 1-0 West Ham – 14th August 2022
Certainly might not have been the prettiest game to watch, but the pure euphoria and occasion of the first Premier League game in 23 years at the City Ground made the game what it was.
The scrappy goal, Dean Henderson’s penalty save, VAR – everything about that day was just special and a great day to be a Forest fan after so many years of disappointment and failure.
4. Forest 4-1 Leicester – 6th February 2022
Nobody expects a Championship side to beat the reigning champions of the FA Cup, but Cooper masterminded a sensational performance and result to knock out the noisy neighbours.
3-0 ahead after half an hour, with the Reds just looking so comfortable – it was just such a memorable day in a day that felt like Forest could genuinely beat anyone with that side.
3. Forest 1-1 Manchester City – 17th February 2023
I can’t remember another time a draw felt like we’d won all three points.
Like the Leicester game, no one expected us to get anything out of a game against a side who have dominated English football for the last decade.
Granted, we were lucky Erling Haaland had an off day, but the team goal with every player touching the ball in the build-up, was worthy of winning any game let alone clinching a point.
A really significant day in signalling how far we’ve come under Cooper’s guidance.
2. Forest 1-0 Arsenal – 20th May 2023
The day that clinched our Premier League status for another season.
A game that reflected Cooper’s philosophy perfectly. Soak up the pressure, defend well as a unit and counterattack to kill the game off.
The whole day at the City Ground felt like a party, a really strong end to the season, capped off with a brilliant display ending Arsenal’s title hopes in the process.
1 Forest 1-0 Huddersfield – 29th May 2022
The best day for a generation of Nottingham Forest fans.
A day that no one could’ve imagined especially after the dismal start to the campaign under Hughton.
30,000 Forest fans at Wembley celebrating the return to the Premier is something no Reds fan could ever get bored of watching.
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