Alan Pardew shares what makes him such a ‘big lover’ of Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo

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Nottingham Forest are arguably one of the surprise packages of the campaign with the Premier League now seven games into the season.

Many pundits had predicted a season of struggle for Nuno Espirito Santo and his team after narrowly escaping relegation last season.

Whilst pundits backed Ipswich Town to kick on after back-to-back promotions, Forest were the pick of most to join Southampton and Leicester in the EFL next season.

On current form, that won’t be happening. Forest have won at Liverpool this season and on Sunday, the Reds picked up a brilliant point at Chelsea.

Espirito Santo went to Stamford Bridge with a gameplan that certainly ruffled the feathers of a few Chelsea supporters.

TalkSPORT pundit Andy Jacobs called it ‘cheating’ and it’s fair to say that he wasn’t a big fan of the approach.

Espirito Santo is making people stand up and take notice, however. Jamie O’Hara lauded him at the weekend and Forest have made a strong start to the season.

There were a number of top performances from a Forest perspective at the weekend and going into the latest international break, the Reds are 10th with 10 points.

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Alan Pardew makes Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo claim

Noni Madueke admitted that Chelsea were left frustrated by Forest and that is credit to the way the Reds set up under Espirito Santo.

The Portuguese boss was a surprising choice to replace Steve Cooper and naturally, some pundits didn’t fancy him to be an upgrade on the former boss.

However, he’s quietly gone about reviving the club and trying to take Forest forward from where they were under Cooper.

Pardew is certainly a huge fan of Forest – and Espirito Santo – with the former FA Cup finalist praising the Reds’ boss.

He said on TalkSPORT (06/10; 4:00pm): “I also really like Nuno. When I watch his sides, there’s a kind of spirit and will in his teams.

“Forest is a great club. I am a big lover of Nottingham Forest and the history and everything else that went on there, with Clough. It is brilliant to see them doing well.

“And that’s a great result today. And they almost won it at the end. They are still pushing. If you are a Nottingham Forest fan, I think you are feeling pretty happy as well.”

Forest can enjoy a really good season if Nuno sorts out on thing

Away from the City Ground, Forest have been brilliant. The team has picked up eight points from games with Liverpool, Southampton, Brighton and Chelsea.

However, the form on home soil has been dreadful with Espirito Santo overseeing just three City Ground wins since joining in December.

Forest have drawn with Bournemouth and Wolves at home this season and were beaten by Fulham last time out.

The Reds sit 10th in the Premier League right now and that’s largely down to the away form under Espirito Santo.

For Forest to truly kick on this season, the head coach has to find a solution to the home struggles.

Three of the next four Premier League matches come at the City Ground and it now looks like a perfect time for Espirito Santo to find that winning formula on Trentside.