Steve Cooper explains how Nottingham Forest players felt after Luton draw

Add as preferred source on Google

Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has explained the feeling within the dressing room after the Reds drew 2-2 with Luton. The Reds were pinned back from a two-goal lead, with the Hatters equalising in injury time.

Chris Wood scored two excellent goals in the second half and was praised by his manager. Things seemed comfortable for the Reds but a wave of unnecessary substitutes killed the momentum that Forest had.

Forest have now slid to 15th in the Premier League after Saturday’s draw. Both Brentford and Wolves won at the weekend and the Reds are now looking over their shoulder once more.

Cooper explains dressing room feeling after disappointing draw

The 43-year-old was clearly unhappy with the way things transpired on Saturday. He was watching a comfortable performance from his team but saw the wheels fall off.

Goals from Chiedozie Ogbene and Elijah Adebayo gave Luton an unlikely point and left Forest on their knees. Now, they have four teams to play who are all playing European football.

After the game, boos rang around the City Ground. It’s now five games without a win for Forest and Cooper can’t afford another relegation battle after signing some real quality this summer.

The head coach told Nottinghamshire Live: “I was frustrated as well. Everyone was frustrated, there was nobody in the dressing room who was about how that game ended.

“Everyone walking out of the stadium – including players and staff – will be frustrated and annoyed. We win, lose and draw together, including with the supporters.

“We’ve talked about the support for a couple of years now. I’m as frustrated and disappointed as anyone.”

Forest head coach Cooper could now feel the pressure

With Liverpool and West Ham to come on the road and Aston Villa and Brighton to come at the City Ground, it’s hard to see where Forest next win a game.

Cooper will feel the pressure at Forest, but that doesn’t make him any different to any other manager in the club’s situation. Premier League football is brutal and managers can never rest on their laurels.

The manager should have some credit in the bank. He’s worked wonders for the Reds and he does deserve some time to get things right and back on track.

Whether Evangelos Marinakis shares that sentiment remains to be seen. Now, Cooper must focus on getting Forest in the right frame of mind for a game against Liverpool at Anfield.